CalFresh: food access.

Assemblymember Caloza's CalFresh legislation directs the State Department of Social Services to maximize food choices for recipients, modifying the department's current requirement to seek federal waivers for expanded food options. The measure maintains the existing authorization for recipients to purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals under Section 3(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act.

The bill acknowledges several barriers CalFresh recipients face when accessing food, including lack of kitchen facilities, special dietary needs, and medication-related food requirements that can limit the utility of traditional groceries. Under the amended provisions, the department must work within federal guidelines to ensure recipients can access a broader range of food options, rather than focusing on obtaining additional waivers and approvals.

This modification to Section 18919.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code retains alignment with federal SNAP regulations while adjusting the department's administrative approach to expanding food access. The measure requires no new appropriations and creates no new local programs, operating through existing state-level administrative mechanisms.