Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code § 18904.1 (2026)

(a)The director, to the extent permitted by federal law, shall establish methods for CalFresh benefit issuance in all counties which guarantee to low-income households the health-vital nutritional benefits available under this chapter and to achieve the most efficient system for program administration so as to minimize administrative costs.

(b)The director shall maintain methods for over-the-counter and mail issuance of CalFresh benefits in a county until issuance of CalFresh benefits by electronic benefits transfer for all CalFresh recipients in the county has been implemented pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1.

(c)Until issuance of CalFresh benefits by electronic benefits transfer has been implemented in a county for all CalFresh recipients, the director shall maintain, in the county, methods for over-the-counter issuance that guarantee program accessibility in all cases where a household has been found to be in immediate need of food assistance or where a household has been determined to be eligible for the replacement of a previous issuance.