§ 11454.6

(a) Notwithstanding Section 15200, to the extent that the exemptions from the time limits on aid specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 11454 and subdivision (a) of Section 11454.5 exceed 20 percent of the number of families aided in a county, for a period as determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, for purposes of measuring the hardship exemption for time limits, the county shall be responsible for the amount of aid that would otherwise have been paid through federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant funds pursuant to Section 11450, with respect to those persons exempt under either paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 11454 or subdivision (a) of Section 11454.5 that exceed the 20 percent hardship exemption during the period determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and provided for in federal law.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply if the statewide percentage of families aided during that period is 20 percent or less.

(c) The department may determine that a county has good cause for exceeding the 20-percent limitation provided for in subdivision (a). Under this determination, the county share may be reduced or waived by the department.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the steering committee as specified in Section 10544.317 review this provision to ensure that:

(1) The state does not exceed the limit on hardship exemptions as provided in federal law.

(2) Counties are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control and that statewide flexibility for allocation of the percentages is assured.

(3) Recipients will have access to the hardship exemption, regardless of their county of origin.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 229, Sec. 34. Effective August 16, 2004. Operative December 1, 2004, by Sec. 65 of Ch. 229. Note: See Sec. 64.6 of Ch. 229 regarding implementation.)