Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families using federal, state, and county funds.

Existing law requires a recipient of CalWORKs to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility. Existing law authorizes a student who, at the time they are required to participate in the program, is enrolled in any undergraduate degree or certificate program that leads to employment to continue in that program if they are making satisfactory progress in that program, the county determines that continuing in the program is likely to lead to self-supporting employment for that recipient, and the welfare-to-work plan reflects that determination. A person may meet their welfare-to-work requirements by taking part in a self-initiated education or training program, but if a recipient does not complete a specified number of hours of classroom, laboratory, or internship activities, the county human services agency is required to have the recipient participate in concurrent work activities, as specified. Existing law requires that necessary supportive services, including childcare and transportation costs, be available to every welfare-to-work participant in order to participate in the program activity to which they are assigned.

This bill would require that specified CalWORKs eligible individuals participating in a full time or part time educational activity at a publicly funded postsecondary educational institution and making satisfactory progress, as specified, receive a standard payment of $175 to $500 per semester or quarter, which may be provided, in whole or in part, in the form of a book voucher, or reimbursement for verified actual expenses for the purpose of paying costs associated with attending the postsecondary educational institution. The bill would exempt an applicant or recipient who is enrolled in a specified educational plan or program and making satisfactory progress from participating in specified work activities, would revise applicable assessment requirements, and would entitle an applicant to the payment or reimbursement and other necessary supportive services. The bill would define “full time” and “making satisfactory progress” for purposes of these provisions. By imposing a higher level of service on county employees, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement these provisions by all-county letter or similar instruction until regulations are adopted and would require emergency regulations to be adopted by January 1, 2023. The bill would authorize the initial adoption and one readoption of emergency regulations and would require final regulations to be adopted on or before the expiration of the emergency regulations.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.

This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill.