Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law imposes various requirements on CalWORKs recipients, including the requirement to participate in specified welfare-to-work activities, unless a good cause exception applies. Existing law requires a county to waive a program requirement for a recipient who has been identified as a past or present victim of domestic abuse when it has been determined that good cause under the welfare-to-work requirement exists.
This bill would, among other things, instead require a county to waive a program requirement for a recipient who has been identified as a past or present victim of domestic abuse unless the county has evidence that the requirement would not make it more difficult for the recipient or their children to escape abuse, or that it would not be detrimental or unfairly penalize them. The bill would require counties, within specified timeframes, to notify each applicant or recipient about whether or not a waiver will be issued, and if a waiver is denied, the specific reasons for the denials. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with stakeholders, to develop a uniform set of written materials that addresses all relevant information and necessary requirements designed to assist individuals to identify, escape, or stop future abuse, overcome the effects of abuse, and make informed decisions, and a standardized waiver request form. The bill would require each county to provide the written materials and standardized waiver request form to each applicant and recipient, as specified. The bill would require the department to implement these provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction. By imposing duties on counties, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Statutes affected:
AB 969: 11495 WIC, 11495.1 WIC, 11495.15 WIC, 11495.16 WIC, 11495.17 WIC
02/20/25 - Introduced: 11495 WIC, 11495.1 WIC, 11495.15 WIC, 11495.16 WIC, 11495.17 WIC