Democrat lawmakers in California have introduced new legislation that seeks to decriminalize welfare fraud in the state if the amount stolen is below $25,000.
The bill would allow fraudsters to escape criminal penalties by writing off welfare overpayments up to $25K as “administrative errors.”
Senate Bill 560 would also delete a provision for criminal penalties for any attempt at welfare fraud below $950.
The legislation was introduced by Democrat State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.
In a statement, Smallwood-Cuevas said:
“California’s safety net should lift families up, not trap them in poverty.
“Right now, a missed deadline or paperwork mistake can lead to felony charges that tear families apart — even when there’s no intent to deceive.”
The Democrat state senator said the bill “offers a smarter, more humane approach by allowing counties to resolve most overpayment cases administratively, holding people accountable without criminalizing poverty.”
The legislation is set for a hearing on May 5.
The bill would require a county agency to determine whether the welfare benefits were authorized as a result of an error in the Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS).
It would essentially place the responsibility for the fraudulent payments on CalSAWS.
As such, people who receive fraudulent welfare