CalFresh: food access.

Assembly Member Caloza's legislation to expand food choices for CalFresh recipients aims to address barriers faced by Californians who lack kitchen facilities or have special dietary needs. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to maximize available food options, including hot prepared meals and ready-to-eat items, under existing federal nutrition assistance guidelines.

The measure modifies current law by shifting the department's role from seeking federal waivers to actively ensuring recipients can access a broader range of food choices. According to the bill's findings, many CalFresh participants struggle to prepare traditional groceries due to limited cooking facilities or medical dietary requirements. The legislation frames these expanded purchasing options as a means of providing more equitable food access while maintaining alignment with Section 3(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act.

While the bill creates no new appropriations, it would require the department to develop policies and procedures for implementing the expanded food choices. This includes potential coordination with vendors to accommodate hot prepared foods and ready-to-eat items within the existing CalFresh benefits framework. The measure maintains the program's core structure while aiming to remove obstacles for recipients who face challenges utilizing traditional grocery options.