Section 15204.3.

(a) Beginning in the 2000–01 fiscal year, allocation of funds provided under Section 15204.2 shall be made, in the case of funds for benefits administration and employment services, based on projected county costs and subject to funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act for operating the CalWORKs program under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200). By November 1, 1999, the department and the County Welfare Directors Association shall jointly develop the specific components of this budgeting methodology, including a process for ensuring that costs funded under the methodology are reasonable and consistent with the requirements of this chapter. It is the intent of the Legislature that limited-term housing assistance be considered as part of the cost-based allocation methodology, where appropriate.

(b) Beginning in the 2002–03 fiscal year, funding in support of all components of the CalWORKs program and all state programs funded with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding shall be based on a budgeting methodology developed by the department in consultation with the counties, the California State Association of Counties, the County Welfare Directors Association, and other stakeholders, and subject to funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act for administration of the CalWORKs program under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200). In developing the new methodology, the department shall consider, among other factors, the availability of state and federal funds, projected caseload, and the need for basic supportive and employment services. The department shall submit the new methodology to the policy and fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature by November 15, 2001.

(c) Beginning in the 2002–03 fiscal year, any adjustments to the county CalWORKs single allocations, determined pursuant to Section 15204.2, for funding overlaps pertaining to both United States Department of Labor Welfare-to-Work Grant funds and state matching funds, shall reflect the most recent available data regarding the expenditures of those funds that offset the funds that counties would have otherwise spent from the CalWORKs single allocations.

(d) In the 1997–98 fiscal year, additional funds for welfare-to-work administration above GAIN allocation in the 1996–97 fiscal year shall be distributed among the counties with two-thirds allocated to all counties based on each county's share of adults aided under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200). The remaining one-third shall be allocated among only those counties that in the prior year received an allocation per average aided adult at a level less than the statewide average, and shall be distributed among those counties so that they each receive the same overall allocation per average aided adult for welfare-to-work administration.

(e) For purposes of this section, and subject to funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act, no county shall receive less for employment services than what was received in the 1997–98 fiscal year allocation for welfare-to-work administration unless a county projects that its cost will be less than its 1997–98 fiscal year allocation for employment services.

(f) (1) In the 2001–02 fiscal year, the sum of three million five hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars ($3,587,000) in state matching funds for federal welfare-to-work block grant funds appropriated by Item 5180-101-0001 of the Budget Act of 2001 is for the purpose specified in paragraph (3).

(2) (A) No later than 30 days after the receipt of fourth-quarter claims submitted by counties in accordance with this section, the department shall determine the amount of unspent funds appropriated for the 2000–01 fiscal year for the CalWORKs single allocation and the CalWORKs mental health and substance abuse allocations. The department shall also determine the amount of those funds that were appropriated from the General Fund and the amount that was appropriated from the Federal Trust Fund.

(B) The amount determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) to have been appropriated from the General Fund shall be reappropriated to Item 5180-101-0001 of the Budget Act of 2001.

(C) The amount determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) to have been appropriated from the Federal Trust Fund shall be reappropriated to Item 5180-101-0890 of the Budget Act of 2001.

(3) No later than 60 days after the receipt of fourth-quarter claims, all funds appropriated to Item 5180-101-0001 and Item 5180-101-0890 of the Budget Act of 2001 pursuant to this subdivision shall be allocated to the counties that are under equity with respect to the single allocation (excluding child care and Cal-Learn) for the 2001–02 fiscal year, according to a methodology developed by the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association.

(g) For the 2002–03 fiscal year only, the single allocation made pursuant to Section 15204.2 shall include an adjustment in the amount of one hundred twenty-eight million dollars ($128,000,000), from funds appropriated in Item 5180-101-0890, Schedule 16.30 (b) of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2002. The appropriated funds shall be allocated to counties for the 2002–03 fiscal year according to a methodology determined by the department in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1022, Sec. 50. Effective September 28, 2002.)