Bill to Extend Electronic Payment Authorization Emerges in Assembly

A bill that would prevent the sunsetting of a law allowing carriers to use debit cards to pay benefits emerged in the California Assembly. Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, D-Whittier, on Monday amended Assembly Bill 1239 to add language that would postpone the sunsetting of the statute authorizing electronic benefit payments, to Jan. 1, 2027, from Jan. 1, 2025. The amendments make this the third bill from Calderon to extend the electronic benefit card pilot payment program launched six years ago. Lawmakers in 2018 passed SB 880 creating a five-year pilot program allowing debit cards to pay tem...