18901.1. (Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 11, Sec. 85.)

(a) The department shall issue guidance to counties that does all of the following:

(1) Simplifies the verification of dependent care expense deductions necessary to determine a household’s eligibility for, or the benefit level of, CalFresh.

(2) Establishes that dependent care expenses shall be considered verified upon receipt of a self-certified statement of monthly dependent care expenses, unless federal law or guidance requires additional documentation.

(3) Prohibits a county human services agency from requesting additional documents to verify dependent care expenses, except when the reported dependent care expenses are questionable as defined in state regulations.

(b) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), until regulations are adopted, the department may implement this section through all-county letters or similar instructions. The department shall adopt regulations implementing this section.