(a) There is hereby created the SSI/SSP Cash-In Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) Program.

(b)  The department shall use state funds appropriated for this program to provide transitional nutrition benefits to former CalFresh households that were eligible for and receiving CalFresh benefits as of June 1, 2019, or the alternate implementation date described in subdivision (b) of Section 18900.5, but became ineligible for CalFresh benefits when a previously excluded individual receiving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment Program benefits provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3 was added to the household pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 18900.5.

(c) (1) The amount of TNB provided to each household shall be based on a TNB table developed by the department.

(2) The benefit table described in paragraph (1) shall be issued annually and be based on all of the following:

(A) The projected number of households described in subdivision (b).

(B) Household size as determined when the previously excluded individual was added to the household pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 18900.5.

(C) The number of previously excluded individuals added to the household pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 18900.5.

(D) The total funding appropriated for purposes of this section in the annual Budget Act.

(d) TNB provided pursuant to this section shall be delivered through the electronic benefits transfer system created pursuant to Section 10072, and, to the extent permitted by federal law, shall not be considered income for any means-tested program.

(e) A household that is eligible for TNB shall be initially certified for one 12-month period and may be recertified for additional 12-month periods through a recertification process developed by the department, following consultation with counties and stakeholders, if the household continues to meet all of the following criteria:

(1) The household includes at least one individual added to the household pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 18900.5.

(2) This individual continues to receive Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment Program benefits provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Part 3.

(3) This individual remains ineligible for CalFresh benefits.

(f) The department shall develop client notices for the TNB program, as appropriate.

(g) (1) If a household is discontinued for failure to provide the documentation or information required to determine continuing eligibility for TNB, the benefits shall be restored, without proration, back to the original date of discontinuance of TNB, if all documentation and information required to determine continuing eligibility is provided to the county within 90 days of the date of discontinuance from TNB. If the household is discontinued for any other reason and reapplies for benefits, the transitional benefit provisions outlined in this section shall not apply.

(2) The department, in consultation with representatives of county human services agencies and the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop and implement a process that maintains eligibility for all beneficiaries of benefits provided under this section for two years by pausing the discontinuances described in paragraph (1) and marking all recertifications as complete. The pause shall take effect as soon as possible after the effective date of the act that added this paragraph, and shall continue for two years from the commencement of the pause, or until the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement subdivision (e), whichever date is later.

(h) Households that are eligible for and receive TNB under this section shall not at any point be eligible for supplemental nutrition benefits, as created in Section 18900.6, regardless of a change in household circumstances.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 79. (AB 135) Effective July 16, 2021.)