(a)
The department shall establish procedures to provide timely access to information on CalWORKs families to counties and researchers in a manner that maintains confidentiality of data while making it possible to undertake ongoing monitoring, research, and evaluation.
(b)
(1)The department, with the cooperation of the University of California, shall establish a project to link longitudinal administrative data on individuals and families who are receiving benefits under the CalWORKs program, or have received benefits under the program within the last 10 years.
(2)
All data shall be made available to a university center with the capability of linking it with other appropriate data to allow for ongoing assessment of program impact.
(3)
The department shall ensure that information identifiable to individuals and families is removed so as to maintain strict confidentiality.
(4)
The State Department of Health Services, the Employment Development Department, the Franchise Tax Board, the State Department of Education, and any other state or local governmental agency that collects information on aided families shall provide the department with the necessary data, if legally available.