(a) The program shall make use of a simple and easy to understand mail-in application process.

(b) For children referred pursuant to Section 14005.41 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the program shall utilize the school lunch application and any supplemental forms received pursuant to Section 14005.41 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to make an eligibility determination and shall request additional information only as needed to complete the eligibility process.

(c) The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board may adopt emergency regulations to implement subdivision (b) and coordinate with all other state and local government entities in the implementation of Section 49557.2 of the Education Code and Section 14005.41 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Any rules and regulations issued by the board pertaining to the implementation of this section may be adopted as emergency regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). The adoption and one readoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare, and shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. Any emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and publication in the California Code of Regulations, and shall remain in effect for not more than 180 days unless the department readopts those regulations. The regulations shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 729, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)