Steve Bennett
- Democratic
- Assemblymember
- District 38
Author
Existing law establishes various means-tested public social services programs administered by counties to provide eligible recipients with certain benefits, including, but not limited to, cash assistance under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law establishes various awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission and establishes eligibility requirements for these awards for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for their governance. Existing law establishes county boards of education and school districts throughout the state to administer the public elementary and secondary schools within their respective jurisdictions. Existing law requires county boards of education and school district governing boards to appoint at least one high school pupil as a pupil member of the board in response to a petition from high school pupils requesting the appointment of one or more pupil members. Existing law authorizes the county board of education and the governing board of a school district to award a pupil member elective course credit or monthly financial compensation, or both, as provided. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit that compensation from being considered as income or resources when determining eligibility and benefit amount for any means-tested program and any scholarships for public colleges and universities, as specified. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for programs administered by counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement, interpret, or make specific the income exclusion for programs under its jurisdiction by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The bill would specify that its provisions apply to programs under the department's jurisdiction beginning on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the income exclusion for those programs. The bill would require the department to issue guidance as necessary to begin automation no later than July 1, 2026. 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.
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 686, Statutes of 2025.
Approved by the Governor.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3102.).
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2592.).
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 16).
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1485.)
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Read first time.
From printer. May be heard in committee February 24.
Introduced. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| AB320 | HTML |
| 01/24/25 - Introduced | |
| 06/18/25 - Amended Senate | |
| 09/02/25 - Amended Senate | |
| 09/11/25 - Enrolled | |
| 10/13/25 - Chaptered |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 03/07/25- Assembly Human Services | |
| 04/28/25- Assembly Appropriations | |
| 06/12/25- Senate Human Services | |
| 06/30/25- Senate Education | |
| 07/11/25- Senate Appropriations | |
| 08/30/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 09/03/25- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 09/09/25- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS |
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