SB 842

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs within state government and sets forth its powers and duties, including, but not limited to, administration of veterans benefits programs. Existing law also establishes the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is charged with various duties, including reviewing applications and issuing drivers' licenses. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and maintain a program for the issuance of identification cards establishing California residency to any eligible person, as defined, who is the spouse, domestic partner, or dependent child of a member or veteran of the armed services of the United States or the California National Guard, in accordance with specified requirements. Possession of a valid California residency identification card would be evidence that the person is a California resident for the purposes of entitlement to benefits at all state and local offices. The bill would require each office of the Department of Motor Vehicles to perform various duties with respect to distribution, collection, and processing of the application forms and issuing the identification cards. Among other responsibilities, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be responsible for developing protocols to be used by it and the Department of Motor Vehicles in administering the program. (2) Existing law includes various public social services programs to provide for protection, care, and assistance to the people of the state in need of those services, by providing appropriate aid and services to the needy and distressed. Counties are responsible for administrating these programs, such as CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and in-home supportive services. State funds are continuously appropriated to pay for a share of costs under the CalWORKs program. Existing federal law limits eligibility of aliens for federal public benefits to those who satisfy the definition of a qualified alien, with specified exceptions. Existing federal law similarly limits the provision of state or local public benefits, but authorizes a state to provide state and local public benefits, as defined, to an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States by enactment of a state law that affirmatively provides for that eligibility. This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would make the spouse or domestic partner, or a dependent natural or adopted child or stepchild, of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this state who is, or was, on active duty at any time on or after January 1, 1991, eligible to apply for and receive defined state and local public social services benefits to the same extent as any other applicant or recipient, regardless of the individual's immigration status, as specified. This bill would make an appropriation by expanding eligibility for the CalWORKs program. In addition, the bill would increase the duties of counties administering public social services programs, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.