Section 11006.2.

(a) The department may provide for the delivery of public assistance payments at any time during the month.

(b) The department shall cooperate with county treasurers and private financial service providers, including depository institutions, licensed check sellers, data processing service vendors, and retail merchants, in developing and implementing an electronically based system for delivering public assistance payments to those recipients who do not have individual deposit accounts with financial institutions.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person entitled to the receipt of public assistance payments may authorize payment to be directly deposited by electronic fund transfer into the person's account at the financial institution of his or her choice under a program for direct deposit by electronic transfer established by the county treasurer. The direct deposit shall discharge the department's obligation with respect to the payment.

(2) Each county treasurer shall make an agreement with one or more financial institutions participating in the Automated Clearing House pursuant to the local rules, and shall, by December 1, 2001, establish a program for the direct deposit by electronic fund transfer of payments to any person entitled to the receipt of public assistance benefits who authorizes the direct deposit thereof into the person's account at the financial institution of his or her choice.

(3) This subdivision shall apply in each county that offers a program for direct deposit by electronic funds transfer to some or all of its employees.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1022, Sec. 25. Effective September 28, 2002. Operative January 30, 2004, pursuant to Sec. 70 of Ch. 1022.)