(a) (1) The department shall work with the State Department of Social Services to maximize participation in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program established pursuant to the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

(2) The department shall share all data determined by the departments to be necessary to adhere to the requirements of paragraph (1) and § 18901.57 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) The department shall follow the federal guidelines and regulations established pursuant to Section 502 of Title IV of Division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to maximize flexibility for local educational agencies to distribute summer meals through noncongregate distributions.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 600, Sec. 8. (SB 348) Effective January 1, 2024.)