Bill Text: CA AB2058 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: CalWORKs: education incentives.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [AB2058 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2058-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2058	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mayes

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2016

   An act to add Article 3.7 (commencing with Section 11340) to
Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to CalWORKs.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2058, as introduced, Mayes. CalWORKs Educational Opportunity
and Attainment Program.
   Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and
other social services to needy families through the California Work
Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using
federal, state, and county funds. Under existing law, a recipient of
CalWORKs is required to participate in welfare-to-work activities for
a specified number of hours each week as a condition of eligibility
for aid. Existing law authorizes certain welfare-to-work participants
to engage in adult basic education in satisfaction of these work
requirements.
   Existing law establishes the Cal-Learn Program, under which a
recipient of CalWORKs aid who is under 19 years of age and who does
not have a high school diploma or its equivalent is required to
participate in the program as a student attending school on a
full-time basis. Existing law provides for a supplement to, or a
reduction in, a Cal-Learn participant's aid grant based on his or her
performance in school.
   This bill would create the CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and
Attainment Program to provide CalWORKs recipients with an education
bonus, in an unspecified amount, each month after the attainment of a
high school diploma or its equivalent, an associate's degree, or a
bachelor's degree, if the diploma or degree was earned while the
recipient was receiving CalWORKs assistance. The bill would require a
recipient, when applying for an education bonus, to submit evidence
of completion of the educational program to the county. The bill
would also require the State Department of Social Services to develop
a process for verifying educational achievement. The bill would
establish the CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment Support
Fund, and would provide that moneys in the fund be used, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to support the program. By imposing
additional administrative duties on counties, this bill would impose
a state-mandated local program.
   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 these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Article 3.7 (commencing with Section 11340) is added to
Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:

      Article 3.7.  CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment
Program


   11340.  (a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the
CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment Program.
   (b) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (1) California is expected to spend one hundred thirty-six billion
dollars ($136,000,000,000) on health and human services programs in
2016, which is by far the largest state budget expenditure, while
total education spending for kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive,
and higher education programs is less than seventy billion dollars
($70,000,000,000) per year.
   (2) California has the fifth largest Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) cash grant in the nation, and the second
largest amongst the 10 largest states, yet poverty remains a
persistent problem.
   (3) We must recognize that California's problems of poverty and
inequality do not stem from a lack of safety net programs.
   (4) California needs to invest in programs that elevate people out
of poverty rather than helping people live better in poverty.
   (5) This act is intended to provide incentives for CalWORKs
recipients to pursue education, thereby improving the opportunities
and outcomes for adults and children in the CalWORKs program.
   11341.  (a) A CalWORKs recipient may apply to receive an education
bonus in the following amounts:
   (1) ____ dollars ($____) per month for completion of high school
or its equivalent.
   (2) ____ dollars ($____) per month for completion of an associate'
s degree.
   (3) ____ dollars ($____) per month for completion of a bachelor's
degree.
   (b) The amounts listed in subdivision (a) are not cumulative. A
recipient shall receive the highest monthly bonus to which he or she
is entitled.
   11342.  (a) When applying for an education bonus, a recipient
shall submit evidence of completion of the educational program to the
county. A recipient is not eligible unless both of the following
criteria are satisfied:
   (1) The recipient graduated from an accredited educational
institution.
   (2) The recipient attained the diploma or degree while receiving
CalWORKs assistance.
   (b) The State Department of Social Services shall develop a
process for verifying educational achievement.
   11343.  The CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment
Support Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury. The moneys
in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for
the support of CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment
Program.
  SEC. 2.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.