CA SB 521

Title: CalWORKs: pregnancy or parenting.
Author: Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

Summary
SB 521, as amended, Smallwood-Cuevas. CalWORKs: pregnancy or parenting. Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of federal, state, and county funds, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Under the CalWORKs program, as a condition of eligibility for aid, recipients are required to participate in certain welfare-to-work activities, except for specified individuals, including, among others, individuals under 16 years of age and recipients who are pregnant.Existing law requires that a recipient be excused from participation for good cause if the county has determined that there is a condition or other circumstance that temporarily prevents or significantly impairs the recipient’s ability to be regularly employed or to participate in welfare-to-work activities. Existing law requires the county human services agency to review the good cause determination for its continuing appropriateness in accordance with the projected length of the condition, or circumstance, but not less than every 3 months. Under existing law, conditions that may be considered good cause include, but are not limited to, lack of necessary supportive services, licensed or license-exempt childcare for a child 10 years of age or younger is not reasonably available during the individual’s hours of training or employment, arrangements for childcare have broken down or have been interrupted, or childcare is needed for a child who meets specified criteria.Existing federal law, known as Title IX, prohibits a person, on the basis of sex, from being excluded from participation in, being denied the benefits of, or being subject to discrimination under, any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.This bill would add denial of reasonable accommodations for pregnant or parenting students, in violation of Title IX, to the list of conditions that may be considered good cause for excuse from participation in welfare-to-work activities.Existing law prohibits the application of sanctions for a failure or refusal to comply with CalWORKs program requirements for reasons related to employment, an offer of employment, an activity, or other training for employment. Under existing law, those reasons include, among others, that the employment-related circumstance involves conditions that are in violation of applicable health and safety standards or it discriminates on any of specified protected characteristics.This bill would add to those reasons the circumstance of the recipient requiring pregnancy- or parenting-related accommodations covered under Title IX, or other specified laws, and not having received adequate accommodations.The bill would make a change to a related provision under existing law concerning a stakeholder workgroup.Under existing law, a parent or caretaker relative is not eligible for CalWORKs aid when the parent or caretaker has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. Existing law increases that time limit to 60 months on May 1, 2022, or upon a specified notification to the Legislature from the State Department of Social Services. Existing law provides that all months of aid received under the CalWORKs program apply toward those time limits, except when certain conditions apply, or as otherwise specified by law.Existing law establishes the Cal-Learn Program, which requires certain CalWORKs recipients who are under 19 years of age and are pregnant or custodial parents to participate in the program until the participant earns a high school diploma or its equivalent. Existing law requires counties to arrange for the provision of education and supportive services that teenage parents need to successfully participate in the Cal-Learn Program. Existing law requires a county to exempt a teenage parent from the Cal-Learn Program if specified conditions occur, including, but not limited to

Status
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

Bill Documents
CA SB 521 - 09/08/23 - Amended Assembly
09/08/23 - CA SB 521 (09/08/23 - Amended Assembly)