Healthcare
State and local public benefits
California expressly authorizes local governments and hospital districts to provide public benefits, including health care, regardless of federal immigration-status restrictions.
The law clarifies that cities, counties, and hospital districts may choose to offer locally funded benefits to people otherwise barred solely by the federal PRWORA restriction.
What the law does
- Defines the authorized aid as a “state or local public benefit” under federal law.
- Allows cities, counties, cities and counties, and hospital districts to provide health care and other services at their discretion.
- Applies to people who would qualify for the benefit except for the federal restriction on persons without lawful status.
Who it affects
- Residents without lawful immigration status who otherwise meet local benefit eligibility rules.
- Cities, counties, cities and counties, and hospital districts that elect to provide these benefits.
Context
Federal law generally bars specified persons without lawful status from state and local public benefits unless state law affirmatively authorizes eligibility.