Bill > AB1655

This bill would amend the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, which provides cash assistance and benefits to low-income families. Currently, a child receiving medical care in a hospital is considered temporarily absent from home, and this absence does not affect the family's aid. This bill expands that provision to include children or other family members who are unlawfully detained in a federal immigration detention facility, meaning their absence due to detention would not reduce the family's CalWORKs grant. A family member would be considered unlawfully detained if a report of misconduct by federal agents is submitted to the California Attorney General, and county human services agencies would be required to assist families in filing such reports. The bill also clarifies that state funding typically provided for CalWORKs costs will not apply to the provisions of this bill, and any state-mandated costs to local agencies would be reimbursed according to existing procedures.

Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1655