The State Department of Social Services shall establish and supervise a county- or county consortia-administered program to provide cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens and who successfully complete an application process. No application shall be required of individuals described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 18944. The department shall conduct the evaluations of disability for the program. If the federal government agrees to administer the program, the department shall contract with the federal

government for this purpose, and the county responsibilities shall be reduced by the duties and responsibilities undertaken by the federal government.