(a) (1) Each county may provide an extension of time during which a recipient may participate in activities described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11322.85 for recipients who are unlikely to meet the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 11322.85 upon the expiration of the 24-month time limitation described in Section 11322.85.

(2) A county may grant extensions pursuant to paragraph (1) for a number of assistance units equal to no more than 20 percent of the assistance units in the county in which all adult members have been provided aid under this chapter for at least 24 months, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11322.85, but not more than 48 months, in accordance with Section 11454.

(b) Counties are required to report information regarding the number and percentage of these extensions they have granted to the state.

(c) After consultation with stakeholders, the department shall issue an all-county letter by November 1, 2013, to define the process for implementing the extensions described in this section and the methodology for calculating the 20 percent limitation in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state shall work with counties and other stakeholders to ensure that the extension process pursuant to subdivision (a) is implemented with minimal disruption to the impending completion of the welfare-to-work plans for recipients.

(e) This section shall become inoperative on May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the changes associated with the repeal of this section, whichever date is later, and, as of January 1 of the following year, is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 11, Sec. 49. (AB 79) Effective June 29, 2020. Inoperative on or after May 1, 2022, as prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed as of January 1 following inoperative date.)