Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18450. Section 18450.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Relief Law of 1945.
ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [18450. - 18460.]
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 1.
in effectCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18451. Section 18451.
The provisions of this chapter (except the provisions of this section) are suspended and continue suspended from operation until the occurrence of an economic emergency in this state, which results from widespread hardship and destitution and necessitates immediate action for the relief of such hardship and destitution. No act shall be done nor power be exercised nor money be expended under or pursuant to such provisions until the occurrence of such an economic emergency has been determined as provided in this section.
Ascertainment and determination of the fact of the occurrence of such an economic emergency is committed to the Senate and Assembly and to the Governor. If and when the Senate and Assembly, by concurrent resolution filed with the Secretary of State, find and declare, and the Governor, by his proclamation filed with the Secretary of State, finds and declares, that there exists an economic emergency in this state, which results from widespread hardship and destitution and necessitates immediate action for the relief of such hardship and destitution (the resolution and the proclamation, respectively, to contain a statement of the facts upon which the finding is based), such an economic emergency is determined to have occurred and to exist, and thenceforth all of the provisions of this chapter are fully operative.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18452. Section 18452.
After the provisions of this chapter become operative, the provisions of Part 5 of this division, relating to county aid and relief to indigents, shall not apply to any person who receives or is eligible to receive relief under this chapter; but Part 5 is not repealed by this chapter, and shall continue in full force and effect in respect to persons not eligible to receive relief under this chapter.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18453. Section 18453.
As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this article have the meanings set forth in this article.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18454. Section 18454.
“Department” means the State Department of Social Services.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18455. Section 18455.
“Aid” means state financial assistance to counties for the direct cost of relief and the cost of administration thereof.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18456. Section 18456.
“Relief” means assistance in cash or in kind provided to individuals or families to relieve hardship and destitution.
Relief to a person includes relief to his dependents, but relief does not include hospital or medical care.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18457. Section 18457.
In accordance with the provisions of this chapter, every county shall provide relief to needy persons who are residents of this state.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18458. Section 18458.
For the purposes of this chapter, a resident of the state is a person who comes within all of the following descriptions:
(a)
Who has lived continuously in the state for a period of one year preceding his application for relief.
(b)
Who, during the one-year period, has not received any form of public assistance from any other state or political subdivision thereof.
(c)
Who has not lost his residence by remaining away from this state for an uninterrupted period of one year. Absence from the state for labor or other special or temporary purpose does not occasion loss of residence.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18459. Section 18459.
For the purposes of this chapter, a person who is a resident of the state is a resident of the county in which he has resided continuously for one year immediately preceding his application for relief.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 18460. Section 18460.
A county may incur all necessary expenses in transporting a nonresident applicant for or recipient of relief under this chapter to another state or county, when information at hand reasonably tends to show that the person has a legal residence in that state or county. The state shall reimburse the county for the full amount of the cost of such transportation.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026