18901.36. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 107, Sec. 9.)

(a) (1) The department, by February 1, 2028, shall establish a CalFresh workgroup to create recommendations for a state reentry process incorporating the necessary resources for transition from state prison or county jail to obtaining CalFresh benefits upon reentry into the community. The composition of the workgroup shall consist of all of the following:

(A) Two representatives from the State Department of Social Services, including one from the Disability Determination Services Division.

(B) One representative from community-based organizations.

(C) One representative from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(D) One representative from the California Health and Human Services Agency.

(E) One representative from the County Welfare Directors Association of California.

(F) Two impacted individuals who were recipients of CalFresh benefits prior to release.

(G) A sheriff or an individual appointed by a sheriff.

(H) One representative from a county human services agency with expertise in CalFresh.

(2) The workgroup shall consider how best to increase CalFresh enrollment for otherwise eligible applicants for the CalFresh program to ensure that an applicant’s benefits begin upon the reentry of the applicant into the community from the state prison or county jail.

(3) The workgroup shall consider federal programs or applicable federal waivers to reduce food insecurity for individuals leaving incarceration and to aid in the reentry process.

(4) The workgroup shall meet no less than quarterly.

(b) By August 31, 2029, and annually by August 31 thereafter, through 2032, the workgroup shall create and submit a report to the department and the Legislature outlining the workgroup’s recommendations. That report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) By January 1, 2026, the department shall seek a federal waiver of Section 272.13 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations to allow for delay of verification of incarcerated individuals for up to five months.

(e) The department shall seek any other relevant federal waivers necessary to implement this section.

(f) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the department shall partner with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county jails to allow for preenrollment of otherwise eligible applicants who are ineligible because of their incarceration status for the CalFresh program to ensure that an applicant’s benefits may begin as soon as possible upon reentry of the applicant into the community from the state prison or a county jail.

(2) In the case of a given county, the department shall implement the partnership described in paragraph (1) with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and county jails upon notification to the State Department of Health Care Services that the corresponding county has implemented the Justice-Involved Initiative that is developed by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to CalAIM provisions, including, but not limited to, Section 14184.800.

(g) This section shall become operative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section.