SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most effective poverty-reduction programs.
(b) In 2015, California established the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) to build on the success of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and to reduce poverty and boost employment.
(c) California has worked to ensure more people are eligible for this important safety net program by expanding the CalEITC to include self-employed workers and workers who are 18 to 24 years of age and 65 years of age and older, and increasing the income eligibility limits of the CalEITC.
(d) The federal Earned Income Tax Credit lifts millions of children out of poverty.
(e) California continues to have the highest number of people living in poverty under the Supplemental Poverty Measure of the United States Census Bureau, which takes into account the cost of living.
(f) California needs a multifaceted approach to increase the number of CalEITC claims among eligible individuals and families.
(g) It is the intent of the Legislature to do both of the following:
(1) Improve California’s tax system by removing barriers to tax filing for low– and very low–income families to increase the number of CalEITC claims.
(2) Develop methods of collaboration and coordination between state agencies to lead to optimal government efficiency to achieve paragraph (1).