Bill > AB363

This bill proposes significant changes to the CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) Recipients Education Program in California community colleges. The bill expands program eligibility to include students who have exceeded the 60-month limit on CalWORKs cash aid but have one or more dependents still receiving aid. It introduces the term "program participant" to describe eligible students and broadens the definition of who can receive services. The bill allows community colleges to provide additional special services, including direct aid for basic needs, and modifies existing provisions around work-study and childcare. Specifically, the bill allows program payments to employers for work-study positions to cover 100% of wages (instead of the previous 75%) and permits programs to waive the requirement for employers to contribute 25% of wages under certain conditions. The bill also removes previous limitations on subsidized campus childcare, making it more accessible to participants. Additionally, the legislation aims to help CalWORKs program participants prepare for employment by supporting educational services, job placement, and skills training. If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated costs, local agencies would be reimbursed according to existing government code provisions.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB363