Bill > AB320

This bill aims to prevent compensation received by high school student board members from being counted as income or resources when determining eligibility for various means-tested public assistance programs and scholarships. Specifically, the bill ensures that financial compensation awarded to student board members for their service on school district governing boards or county boards of education will not be considered when calculating eligibility for programs like CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids), Medi-Cal, General Assistance, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, and various state-sponsored scholarships such as Cal Grants and Chafee grants. The bill requires the State Department of Social Services to implement these income exclusions and gives the department flexibility to issue guidance through all-county letters until formal regulations are adopted. The implementation is contingent on the California Statewide Automated Welfare System being able to process these changes, with a deadline of July 1, 2026, for beginning automation. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill imposes state-mandated costs, local agencies and school districts will be reimbursed according to existing statutory procedures.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB320