Existing law provides for the protection, care, and assistance for the people of the state, and the promotion of the welfare and happiness of all people in the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the needy and distressed. Under existing law, counties are responsible for administering the various public social services programs and related services, including, but not limited to, CalFresh and general assistance benefits.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state.

This bill would require a county welfare human services agency, or any other county agency with similar programmatic responsibilities, to consider establishing a county designate an agency liaison for higher education as a single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other professional staff at local community colleges and other institutions of higher education, located within the county, and to provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency’s jurisdiction to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services. The bill would require the county liaison’s duties to be funded using existing resources. The bill would require a disclosure of personal information under the bill to be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws. By requiring counties to perform new duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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.