(a) Any medically needy aged, blind, or disabled person who was categorically needy under this chapter on the basis of eligibility under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) or Subchapter 16 (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code for the month of August 1993, and was discontinued as of September 1, 1993, and who, but for the addition of Section 12200.015, would be eligible to receive benefits without a spend down of excess income in September 1993 under this chapter, shall remain eligible to receive benefits without a spend down of excess income under this chapter as if that person were categorically needy as long as they meet other applicable requirements.

(b) Any medically needy aged, blind, or disabled person who was eligible for benefits under this chapter as categorically needy or medically needy under subdivision (a) for the month of August 1994, shall not be responsible for paying their spend down of excess income if they had that eligibility for benefits without a spend down of excess income interrupted or terminated by the addition of Section 12200.017, and if they, but for Section 12200.017, would be eligible to continue receiving benefits under this chapter without a spend down of excess income.

(c) Any medically needy aged, blind, or disabled person who was eligible for benefits under this chapter as categorically needy, or as medically needy under subdivision (a) or (b), for the calendar month immediately preceding the date that the reductions in maximum aid payments for the state supplementary program established in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 of Division 9 made in the 1995-96 Regular Session of the Legislature are effective shall not be responsible for paying their spend down of excess income if they had that eligibility for benefits without a spend down of excess income interrupted or terminated by the reductions in maximum aid payments, and if they, but for the reductions, would be eligible to continue receiving benefits under this chapter without a spend down of excess income.

(d) Any medically needy aged, blind, or disabled person who was eligible for benefits under this chapter as categorically needy, or as medically needy under subdivisions (a), (b), or (c) for the calendar month immediately preceding the date that the reductions in maximum aid payments for the state supplementary program established in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) made in the 1996 portion of the 1995-96 Regular Session of the Legislature are effective shall not be responsible for paying their spend down of excess income if they had that eligibility for benefits without a spend down of excess income interrupted or terminated by the reductions in maximum aid payments, and if they, but for these reductions, would be eligible to continue receiving benefits under this chapter without a spend down of excess income.

(e) The department shall implement this section regardless of the availability of federal financial participation for the spend down of excess income paid from state funds pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d).

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 42, Sec. 77. (AB 118) Effective July 10, 2023.)