(a) During those times as the federal government provides funds for the care of a needy relative with whom a needy child or needy children are living, aid to the child or children for any month includes aid to meet the needs of that relative, if money payments are made with respect to the child or children for that month, and if the relative is not receiving aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) or 5.1 (commencing with Section 13000) of this part or Part A of Title XVI of the Social Security Act for that month. Needy relatives under this chapter include only natural or adoptive parents, the spouse of a natural or adoptive parent, and other needy caretaker relatives.
(b) (1) The parent or parents shall be considered living with the needy child or needy children for a period of up to 180 consecutive days of the needy child’s or children’s absence from the family assistance unit, and the parent or parents shall be eligible for services under this chapter, including services funded under Sections 15204.2 and 15204.8, and the special needs benefit specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450, if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) The child has been removed from the parent or parents and placed in out-of-home care.
(B) When the child was removed from the parent or parents, the family was receiving aid under this section.
(C) The county has determined that the provision of services under this chapter, including services funded under Sections 15204.2 and 15204.8, and the special needs benefit specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450, is necessary for reunification.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the parent or parents shall not be eligible for any payment of aid under Section 11450, except for the special needs benefit specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 11450.
(c) The department shall revise its state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families plan to incorporate the provisions of subdivision (b) and to incorporate the good cause exception provisions authorized by paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 608 of Title 42 of the United States Code with respect to cases in which reunification occurs after 180 consecutive days from the date of the removal of the child or children from the home.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 545, Sec. 1. (AB 236) Effective January 1, 2018.)