Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, subject to appropriation, to administer the State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program in order to provide food and funding for the provision of emergency food and related costs to food banks serving low-income Californians to prevent hunger during natural or human-made disasters, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to distribute funds under the program upon a proclamation or declaration of a disaster or state of emergency.

Under existing law, a recipient of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program who is participating in a welfare-to-work plan is eligible for $30 per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age. Under the Budget Act of 2024, certain funding is appropriated to the department to allocate to specified food banks and other regional entities for the purpose of distributing diapers and wipes to low-income families with infants or toddlers.

This bill would include children’s diapers and wipes in the list of supplies under the State Emergency Food Bank Reserve Program. The bill would authorize the use of funds distributed under the program for purchasing and distributing children’s diapers and wipes in eligible communities and for reimbursing food banks, as specified.