(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that health and human services programs shall leverage telephonic signature technology to enhance the ability for county human services customers and staff to complete transactions by telephone through the creation of a global telephonic signature solution for use by county human services departments, to the extent permitted by program policy.

(b) The California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) consortium shall be authorized to develop, deploy, and maintain a simple, standalone telephonic signature solution according to the following requirements:

(1) The telephonic signature solution shall allow for storage and retrieval of recorded telephonic signatures in compliance with program policy.

(2) This telephonic signature solution shall be available until equivalent functionality has been integrated into the following case management systems:

(A) CalSAWS.

(B) Case Management Information and Payroll System (CMIPS).

(C) California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES).

(c) This section shall only be implemented to the extent funding is appropriated for these purposes.

(d) This section shall be rendered inoperative upon integration of the telephonic signature solution into all statewide systems included in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), and is repealed as of January 1 of the calendar year following the date of the inoperability.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 23. (AB 135) Effective July 16, 2021. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed on January 1 after inoperative date.)