Bill to Help Streamline H.R. 1 County Eligibility Work Advances

On June 17, the Assembly Insurance Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 1054 by Senator Christopher Cabaldon. CSAC Senior Legislative Advocate Justin Garrett testified in support of SB 1054, highlighting how the measure will strengthen county eligibility operations and help ensure that eligible Californians remain enrolled in Medi-Cal and CalFresh as new federal requirements under H.R. 1 take effect. 

H.R. 1 requires certain Medi-Cal and CalFresh recipients to demonstrate at least 80 hours per month of work or community engagement activities. In California, counties are responsible for verifying eligibility and administering these programs, meaning the new requirements will significantly increase administrative workload and place millions of Californians at risk of losing critical health and nutrition benefits. 

SB 1054 will ease this burden by requiring employers with 10 or more employees to report additional wage and work data, including hours worked, to the Employment Development Department (EDD). The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Department of Social Services (CDSS) will then be able to access the hours worked data to allow for streamlined verification that individuals have complied with the work requirements.  

“This bill puts an important tool in the toolbox for counties and the state that will help prevent vulnerable Californians from unnecessarily losing health care and nutrition assistance,” Garrett said.  

Counties are grateful to Senator Cabaldon for his leadership in advancing this important measure. SB 1054 will next be heard in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.