BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1264
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Date of Hearing: June 18, 2002
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Dion Aroner, Chair
SB 1264 (Alpert) - As Amended: May 23, 2002
SENATE VOTE : 30-6
SUBJECT : Public assistance grant calculations: Awards and
scholarships
SUMMARY : Modifies the way in which California Work Opportunity
and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) dependent children's
scholarships and awards are treated for purposes of calculating
eligibility for program benefits. Specifically, this bill :
1)States legislative findings that current law inhibits the
educational achievement and future economic self-sufficiency
of dependent children in the CalWORKs program.
2)Exempts from calculations of CalWORKs program eligibility and
benefits any award or scholarship granted to or on behalf of a
CalWORKs dependent child for the child's academic, scholastic,
educational or extracurricular achievement or participation.
3)Exempts from the CalWORKs work participation requirements
dependent children age 16 or 17 who hold a high school diploma
or equivalent and are enrolled, or planning to enroll, in a
post-secondary education, vocational, or technical training
program.
4)Defines "planning to enroll" as personally submitting, or
having a parent submit on the dependent child's behalf, a
written statement expressing an intent to enroll in a
post-secondary education, vocational, or technical training
program for the following term.
5)Establishes that the bill does not make a continuous
appropriation of public assistance funds.
EXISTING LAW
1)Establishes the CalWORKs program which provides cash grants
and welfare-to-work services to families whose incomes are not
adequate to meet their basic needs.
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2)Limits the assets and resources a family may possess and still
be eligible for CalWORKs benefits.
3)Prohibits CalWORKs benefits from being granted to or on behalf
of any dependent child that is 18 years of age unless the
child is attending high school or the equivalent level of
vocational or technical training on a full-time basis and can
reasonably be expected to complete the educational or training
program before reaching age 19.
4)Requires CalWORKs recipients to meet the requirements of a
welfare-to-work plan, including weekly work participation
requirements and provides exemptions for some CalWORKs
recipients, including dependent children under age 16 and
dependent children attending school on a full-time basis, from
work participation requirements.
5)Requires CalWORKs dependent children age 16 or 17 and
recipients who are custodial parents under age 20 without high
school diplomas or its equivalent to perform weekly work
participation if not attending school on a full-time basis.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the prior version of the bill would result in costs
of $100,000 in the 2002-03 fiscal year, and costs of $200,000
annually thereafter. The bill has been subsequently amended in a
manner that the Senate Appropriations Committee noted will
reduce the cost of the bill.
COMMENTS :
1)According to the sponsor, Western Center on Law and Poverty,
the current treatment of children's scholarships and awards in
CalWORKs places limits on the educational achievement of
children in families on welfare. Currently, state or federal
scholarships based upon need, as well as income earned from a
dependent child's employment, are exempt from consideration in
calculating CalWORKs benefits. However, merit-based awards
are counted as income and result in a dollar-for dollar
reduction in a family's CalWORKs cash grant. The author and
sponsor argue that exempting scholarships and awards from
income calculations will promote academic achievement among
children of welfare recipients.
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2)Currently, CalWORKs dependent children lose eligibility for
assistance at age 18, but can receive one additional year of
assistance if they are attending high school and expected to
graduate before turning 19. Non-parent CalWORKs dependent
children age 16 or 17 who have completed high school are
subject to a 32-hour weekly work requirement. According to
the sponsor, this work requirement was designed to apply to
high school drop-outs, but has had the unintended consequence
of applying to highly motivated students who finish school
before age 18, even if they are enrolling or planning to
enroll in a post-secondary education program. This work
requirement, the sponsor argues, interferes with CalWORKs
dependent children's capability to get an early start on their
higher education.
3)The author intends to offer the following amendment to address
concerns that have been raised:
Page 5, line 4, Section 11320.3(b)(2)(D) would be amended to
read:
(D) For purposes of subparagraph (C), a person shall be deemed
to be planning to enroll in a postsecondary education,
vocational or technical school training program if he or she,
or his or her parent, acting on his or her behalf, submits a
written statement expressing his or her intent to enroll in
such a program for the following term. The exemption from
participation shall not continue beyond the beginning of the
term unless verification of enrollment is provided or obtained
by the county, or unless the student does not enroll for good
cause.
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Western Center on Law & Poverty (Sponsor)
Alpha Youth & Family Resource Center
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
California Conference of Bishops
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California Council for Youth
California National Organization for Women
California Teachers Association
Caring Council
Center on Policy Initiatives
Children's Advocacy Institute
Children's Defense Fund
Church of Nazarene in Mid-City
County of San Diego Supervisor Ron Roberts
County Welfare Directors Association
Ecumenical Council of San Diego County
First United Methodist Church
Golden Hill Health Careers Academy
Grossmont College
Home Start
International Rescue Committee
La Mesa First United Methodist Church
Lambda Letters Project, The
Metro United Methodist Urban Ministry
Mid-City for Youth
Plymouth Congregational Church
Project New Village
San Diego Association of Nonprofits
San Diego State Univ. Graduate Social Action Committee
San Diego Unified School District
Springfield College, School of Health & Human Services
ST. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
Supportive Parents Information Network
Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, Inc.
Western University of Health Sciences
Opposition
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None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Kirsten Deichert / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2247