B. Lowenthal's food-stamp bill goes to Schwarzenegger

A bill by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal's that would automate the process for California foster children to receive food stamps for one year after they turn 18 is headed to the governor's desk.

Assembly Bill 719 automatically grants food stamps when foster children "age out" of the system and no longer qualify for help from the state.

Though all qualifying adults can apply for food stamps, the Long Beach Democrat argued that safety-net services for foster children in transition should be more automated.

"One day, the state is paying for their care. The next day, they're on their own," Lowenthal said. "It's a very harsh transition and many young people have a hard time dealing with it."

Studies show that less than 40 percent of foster youth have even $250 of their own when they become independent and more than half have failed to graduate from high school, according to state data provided by Lowenthal's chief of staff, Will Shuck.

Perhaps even more concerning is the fact that about 65 percent of the foster children have nowhere to live when they turn 18 and, on average, earn poverty-level wages, about $6,000 a year if they can find work at all. Unemployment is highest among teens.

Lowenthal has said the bill would not cost the state money because food stamps are federally funded. In fact, she views it as a return of taxes paid by Californians to Washington, D.C.

Her bill cleared the Assembly with a 78-0 vote.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has 30 days to sign or veto the the bill or do nothing, allowing it to become law.