(a) To the extent required by Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.) and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, upon the request of either an institutionalized spouse or a community spouse, and upon receipt of relevant documentation of resources, the department shall promptly assess and document the total value of the couple’s resources to the extent either the institutionalized spouse or the community spouse has an ownership interest. Upon completion of the assessment and documentation, the department shall provide a copy of such assessment and documentation to each spouse and shall retain a copy of the assessment.

(b) If the assessment is not part of an application for Medi-Cal, the department may, as a condition of providing the assessment, require payment of a fee not to exceed the reasonable expenses of providing and documenting the assessment.

(c) For purposes of completing the assessment, resources shall be determined, defined, counted, and valued in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 14006.

(d) At the time of providing the copy of the assessment to the couple, the department shall include a notice indicating that either spouse will have a right to a fair hearing to the extent required by federal law.

(e) (1) This section shall remain operative only until Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.) is amended to authorize the consideration of state community property law in determining eligibility under this chapter, or the federal government authorizes the state to apply community property laws in making that determination.

(2) The department shall report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature upon the occurrence of the amendment of federal law or the receipt of federal authorization to apply community property law, as specified in paragraph (1).

(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1430, Sec. 10. Effective October 2, 1989. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (e).)