(a) The department shall contract for an independent evaluation, to be completed no later than January 1, 2001, in order to determine the effect of changes made in the transitional Medi-Cal program by the enactment of Sections 14005.76, 14005.82, 14005.83, 14005.84, 14005.87, 14005.89, and the amendment to Section 14005.85 enacted during the first year of the 1997–98 Regular Session of the Legislature, on the employment of welfare recipients and the continuity of their health coverage.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section shall be implemented only if, and to the extent that, the department determines that federal financial participation, as provided under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.), is available.