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Senate panel advances bill to move most low-dollar public-benefit overpayments out of criminal courts
Summary
The Senate Human Services Committee voted to pass SB 560, which would allow counties to address most CalFresh and CalWORKs overpayments through administrative proceedings instead of criminal prosecution, while preserving felony prosecution for clear intent to defraud.
The Senate Human Services Committee on Thursday advanced SB 560, a bill by Sen. Small Cuevas that would let counties process many public-benefit overpayment cases administratively rather than through criminal charges.
Supporters say the measure aims to stop low-income Californians — mostly women of color, according to witnesses — from being criminalized for paperwork errors or missed deadlines. The author and several witnesses told the committee the current approach has led to felony arrests and convictions for small overpayments.
Senator Small Cuevas, the bill's author, told the committee: “California's safety net is meant to offer stability and opportunity. But for thousands of low income families, it has become a legal trap that punishes them for being poor and maybe having minor oversight.” She said SB 560 “allows counties to handle most overpayment cases…
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