(a) The department shall convene a workgroup comprised of the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, the Student Aid Commission, representatives from student organizations from all three sectors of public postsecondary educational institutions, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and representatives from CalFresh eligibility workers and CalFresh advocates to identify the steps necessary to establish a CalFresh application submission process that accommodates the large influx of CalFresh applications during the beginning of a school term in counties where large public postsecondary educational institutions with 10,000 students or more are located. The workgroup may be convened as part of an existing workgroup that is comprised of the same members specified in this subdivision.

(b) On or before April 1, 2023, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature on the necessary steps identified pursuant to subdivision (a) and any estimates of costs associated with implementing them. The report shall include an analysis of using regional partnerships between counties and shall only include recommendations that are compliant with § 10503 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(c) The report required by this section shall be submitted in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 874, Sec. 4. (SB 641) Effective January 1, 2023.)