(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, until June 30, 2001, the reimbursement of counties meeting one of the following conditions shall not be reduced for the state share of the nonfederal costs for the administration of the In-Home Supportive Services program.

(1) County-imposed funding reductions in the 1999–2000 or 2000–01 fiscal year prevent a county from fully funding the county share of the nonfederal administrative costs of the programs identified in subdivision (a).

(2) Application for relief under Section 16262 and this section was approved in a prior fiscal year for which relief is sought pursuant to these sections and the level of county match available is at least the amount specified in the application for that same fiscal year subject to the restrictions contained in subdivision (b).

(b) Subdivision (a) shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1) The reduction imposed upon departments within a county responsible for administering the program referred to in subdivision (a) shall be proportionate to the average reduction in county funds for administrative activities imposed on all other departments within a county, except departments funded with revenue from Section 35 of Article XIII of the California Constitution and the county departments of health services. The county board of supervisors shall certify that the reductions are imposed proportionately.

(2) If a county reduces the department responsible for administering the program referred to in subdivision (a), and makes reductions that exceed the average reduction of any other county departments, with the exception of departments funded with revenue from Section 35 of Article XIII of the California Constitution, and the county departments of health services, then the state allocation for that program shall be reduced by the same percentage.

(3) The state share of nonfederal costs for county administration allocated to a county for the administration of the programs referred to in subdivision (a) shall be limited to the 1999–2000 or 2000–01 fiscal year allocations as determined by the State Department of Social Services in compliance with current allocation formulas as adjusted pursuant to paragraph (2).

(4) No reduction in county administrative costs authorized by this section shall result in any increased cost to the state General Fund.

(5) No reduction in county administrative costs authorized by this section shall result in any decrease in county assistance payments in the program referred to in subdivision (a).

(6) The maximum rate reduction shall not exceed 15 percent of the required county match. For counties that received fiscal relief in either the 1995–96 or 1996–97 fiscal year, the county match shall be the greater of 50 percent of the required county match for the year relief is being requested, or alternatively, the county match approved in either the 1995–96 or 1996–97 fiscal year.

(c) Counties requesting relief under this section shall apply to the State Department of Social Services on or before October 31 of the fiscal year for which relief is sought pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 90, Sec. 1. Effective July 12, 1999.)