(a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the Financial Empowerment Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the fund are hereby continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal years to the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation for purposes of the act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the Controller shall, on July 1, 2020, transfer from the State Corporations Fund to the Financial Empowerment Fund the sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) plus an amount estimated by the department to be the reasonable costs to administer the division.
(c) The Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation shall use moneys in the Financial Empowerment Fund for allocation to fund financial education and financial empowerment programs and services for at-risk populations in California, as described in Section 24001. The commissioner may additionally use moneys in the Financial Empowerment Fund to cover its costs to administer this act.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 77, Sec. 3. (AB 137) Effective July 16, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, pursuant to Section 24002.)
(a) The Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation shall administer an application process for grants of up to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) per applicant from the Financial Empowerment Fund or shall contract with an independent third party to do so on the department’s behalf. The commissioner, or the independent third party designated by the commissioner, may award up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) in grant moneys per fiscal year. To be eligible for selection by the department to administer the grant program, an independent third party shall cap its administrative fees at no more than 15 percent of the grant moneys it administers on the department’s behalf.
(b) An applicant shall apply to the commissioner or to an independent third party designated by the commissioner for a grant in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner or the independent third party. To be eligible for a grant, an applicant shall meet both of the following criteria:
(1) The organization is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of a private shareholder or individual.
(c) A grantee shall only use grant moneys for the following financial education and financial empowerment programs and services for at-risk populations:
(1) Designing, developing, or offering, free of charge to consumers, classroom- or web-based financial education and empowerment content intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers achieve, identify, and access lower cost financial products and services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt.
(2) Providing individualized, free financial coaching to unbanked and underbanked consumers.
(3) Designing, developing, or offering,
free of charge to consumers, a financial product or service intended to help unbanked and underbanked consumers identify and access responsible financial products and financial services, establish or improve their credit, increase their savings, or lower their debt.
(d) A grantee shall use no more than 15 percent of its grant to cover its administrative costs. Failure to comply with this requirement shall render the organization ineligible for grant funding during the subsequent fiscal year.
(e) Every project funded with a grant from the Financial Empowerment Fund shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Promote and enhance the economic security of consumers.
(2) Adhere to the five principles of effective financial education described in the June
2017 report, “Effective financial education: Five principles and how to use them,” issued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
(3) Include one or more specific outcome targets.
(4) Include an evaluation component designed to measure and document the extent to which the project achieves its intended outcomes and increases consumers’ financial well-being.
(f) Each grantee shall submit a report, in a form and by a date acceptable to the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation documenting the specific uses to which grant funds were allocated, documenting the number of individuals aided through use of the funds, providing quantitative results regarding the impact of grant funding, and including any other information requested by the commissioner. Failure to submit a report shall render the organization ineligible for grant funding during the subsequent fiscal year.
(g) On or before December 31, 2021, and at least once annually thereafter, the department shall post on its internet website a summary of the information received from grantees pursuant to subdivision (f).
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 77, Sec. 4. (AB 137) Effective July 16, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, pursuant to Section 24002.)
(a) This division shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
(b) Upon the repeal of this division, the Controller shall transfer any moneys remaining in the Financial Empowerment Fund to the Financial Protection Fund.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 77, Sec. 5. (AB 137) Effective July 16, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2030, by its own provisions. Note: Repeal affects Division 10.5, commencing with Section 24000.)