California · Penal Code

PEN §396.5: It shall be unlawful for any retail food store or wholesale food concern, as defined in Section 3(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Public Law 95-113) (7 U.

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is unlawful for food stores or persons to exchange CalFresh benefits for unauthorized goods or services. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $5,000 fine and/or up to 90 days in county jail.

Read the full statutory text

It shall be unlawful for any retail food store or wholesale food concern, as defined in Section 3(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Public Law 95-113) (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2012(k)), or any person, to sell, furnish or give away any goods or services, other than those items authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended (Public Law 88-525) (Chapter 51 (commencing with Section 2011) of Title 7 of the United States Code), in exchange for CalFresh benefits issued pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900), Part 6, Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Any violator of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 90 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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