The 2025-26 Budget: Food Assistance Programs

Feb 19, 2025 - Most theft of EBT benefits is believed to be accomplished through creating “clones ” of EBT cards. EBT card cloning is possible, in part, because EBT cards have historically lacked many security features common to debit and credit cards, such as security chips.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4971

The 2024-25 Budget: Food Assistance Programs

Feb 16, 2024 - (This average monthly benefit does not include the emergency allotments provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which averaged about $99 per person. These emergency allotments ended in February 2023.)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4845

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 6, 2023 - Most of this theft is believed to be accomplished through creating “clones ” of EBT cards. EBT card cloning is possible, in part, because EBT cards lack many security features common to debit and credit cards, such as security chips.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4812/2

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Oct 2, 2024 - Continues EBT Card Replacement Effort. The 2023-24 Budget Act included funding (about $75  million total funds over multiple years) to improve EBT card technology and security through the rollout of new cards with chip and tap-to-pay technologies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4933/3

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 6, 2023 - The administration currently estimates, beginning in May 2024, EBT cards will be issued with chip and tap-to-pay technologies, which provide improved fraud protection over the current magnetic stripe technology.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4812/3

The 2022-23 Budget: Analysis of Child Welfare Proposals and Program Implementation Updates

Feb 22, 2022 - Cash cards are issued to caregivers by a third ‑party vendor. As of January 31, 2022, payments had been issued for more than 38,000 children. Family Resource Centers funding $6.0 — Funding has been issued to 378 FRCs in 53 counties, and is expected to serve more than 250,000 individuals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4558

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Nov 21, 2025 - Reduces Funding for Two Regional Center Activities. Since 2021, regional centers have received funding for two operational activities: (1)  implicit bias training for regional center staff, and (2)  health and safety waiver application assistance provided by regional center staff to families served.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5086/1

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Oct 2, 2024 - Requires Updates on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Replacement Time Line. The spending plan includes supplemental reporting language requiring CDSS to provide updates to the Legislature on the schedule for EBT card replacement, how the implementation is minimizing risk for consumers, and the interaction of state and federal funds.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4933/2

The 2023-24 Budget: CalWORKs

Feb 22, 2023 - CalWORKs benefits are deposited into Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which operate similar to debit cards and also handle benefits for CalFresh and some other, smaller programs. Unless otherwise exempt, parents who receive CalWORKs benefits are generally required to work or participate in qualified training or job-search activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4699

The 2024-25 California Spending Plan: Human Services

Oct 2, 2024 - Reduces Funding for Staff at Porterville Developmental Center. The Governor ’s January proposal reduced the 2023-24 estimated budget for the Porterville Developmental Center by $20  million General Fund as a result of workforce hiring challenges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4933/1