SB 1099: State and local public benefits.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes various public social services programs to provide eligible recipients with certain aid or health care benefits, among others. Existing law also requires each county to provide aid to its indigent residents who are not supported by other means under programs known as general assistance programs.

Existing federal law, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), makes specified persons without lawful status in the United States ineligible for state and local public benefits unless a state law is enacted that affirmatively provides for that eligibility, and defines “state or local public benefit” to mean, among other things, any retirement, welfare, health, disability, public or assisted housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, unemployment benefit, or any other similar benefit for which payments or assistance are provided to an individual, household, or family eligibility unit by an agency of a state or local government or by appropriated funds of a state or local government. Existing state law authorizes a city, county, city and county, or hospital district, at its discretion, to provide aid, including health care, to persons who, but for the previously described provision of the federal PRWORA, would meet the eligibility requirements for any program of that entity.

This bill would clarify that the above-described authorization for provision of aid is an authorization to provide a state or local public benefit, as defined by the federal PRWORA.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1009, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 28, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
4. August 24, 2026In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 24, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 63. Noes 4. Page 6371.) Ordered to the Senate.
6. July 2, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 30).
8. June 10, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (June 9). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
9. May 18, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and HUM. S.
10. May 4, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
11. May 4, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 4131.) Ordered to the Assembly.
12. April 22, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.