Our Legislative Accomplishments

As a membership coalition driven by volunteer work CHAC has accomplished this without any funding for staff or a central office.

2007

More than 300 grassroots advocates prepared for Hunger Action Day by attending trainings offered in eight locations around the state. Over 80 legislative visits were scheduled, including one with the Lieutenant Governor. We were pleased to see a strong delegation from San Diego, and increased participation by youth, who delivered our legislative packet to the Governor. You can join us this year.

2006

CHAC supported the following bills:

AB 2384, the “Healthy Purchase Pilot Program” is signed into law! Read the Governor’s message.
AB 569, the “Building Blocks to Breakfast” Bill is passed! Read Assemblywoman Garcia’s press release.
AB 2205, the “Categorical Eligibility” Bill is vetoed. Read the Governor’s veto message.

Learn more about CHAC's 2006 State Legislative Agenda or CHAC’s Federal Legislative Agenda.

2005

We won new legislation that allows food stamp recipients to own a reliable car.
We won new legislation that gives families moving from welfare to work five months of food stamp benefits to help them get back on their feet.
We successfully defended the Senior Brown Bag program from budget cuts.
We won new legislation that allows individuals with drug convictions who have served their time to receive food stamp benefits.
CHAC supported expansion of “ABAWD” waiver extending food stamp benefits to the jobless in high unemployment areas.
We won new legislation creating direct certification for school meals for children in households receiving food stamps.

2004

In 2004, CHAC sponsored its own anti-hunger legislation for the first time with AB 1796 (Leno, D-San Francisco) that was passed by non-partisan support and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. This bill reversed a lifetime ban on all people with drug felony convictions from ever receiving food stamps. With the passing of AB 1796, people who have served their sentence and have gone through recovery can be eligible to receive food stamps if they need them and otherwise qualify.