Backers of the bill say only 50 percent of eligible Californians participate in the CalFresh program and red tape is one of the primary reasons.
“By removing unnecessary barriers to CalFresh eligible families can receive federally funded nutrition assistance,” says Assembly member Mark Stone. “And Californians can acquire some of the four point seven billion dollars in federal funds that the state leaves in DC every year.”
Opponents say the bill would open the food stamp program to fraud because it would allow applicants to identify their dependents with little independent verification.
The bill made it out of the Assembly on a largely party-line vote. It now heads back to the Senate floor for concurrence on Assembly amendments.