(a) For purposes of establishing eligibility for services under this chapter, “a member of the household who is certified to receive benefits from Medi-Cal, CalFresh, the California Food Assistance Program, the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Head Start, Early Head Start, or any other designated means-tested government program, as determined by the department” means either of the following:

(1) A member of the household has been certified as eligible to receive benefits or services in any of those programs. The family shall provide documentation of current enrollment in the program, unless the contracting agency has, and elects to use, other means of obtaining verification of that enrollment.

(2) A contracting agency has determined a member of the household is eligible for Head Start or Early Head Start services.

(b) Families qualifying for eligibility under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of, or under clause (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of, Section 8208 shall have the income declared on the application for the means-tested government program as its income for the purposes of prioritizing enrollment and calculating family fees.

(c) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provision 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), the department may implement and administer this section through the issuance of guidance or other written directives.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 923, Sec. 4. (SB 1047) Effective January 1, 2023.)