Senate Passes Bill to Prolong Electronic Payment Authorization

The California Senate unanimously passed a bill that would allow carriers to continue using debit cards to pay benefits for another two years. The Senate on Monday voted 38-0 to pass Assembly Bill 1239, which would postpone the sunsetting of the statute authorizing electronic benefit payments, to Jan. 1, 2027, from Jan. 1, 2025. Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, D-Whittier, amended the bill in June to add language that would enact the third extension of the electronic benefit card payment pilot program that launched six years ago. The Legislature in 2018 passed SB 880, creating a five-year pilo...