Prior to granting any changes in benefits or levels of service for public social services programs, including the Medi-Cal program, funded by the federal government for benefits or services which are permitted, but not required to be given, under federal law, and which changes program or county administrative costs funded from the General Fund in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) on an annual basis, there shall first be obtained a certification by the State Department of Finance that funds are available for the expenditure and that the department has identified the specific funding sources, and has determined whether the expenditure involves
a federal mandatory or optional benefit or level of service.
The Department of Finance may not approve any expenditure covered by this section until at least 30 days after the information required by this section has been provided to the chairman of the committee of each house which considers appropriations and the Chairman of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.