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Committee advances AB 119 to implement CalWORKs reforms and other human services changes
Summary
AB 119, a human‑services trailer bill that includes CalWORKs streamlining, foster care tiered-rate clarifications, mandated‑reporter training and the elimination of a county match for two homelessness‑prevention programs, passed the Senate budget committee 13–5.
The Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review voted to pass AB 119, a human‑services trailer bill that implements multiple program changes to CalWORKs, foster care payments and other safety‑net programs.
Rosanna Nguyen, program budget manager for the Department of Finance, summarized AB 119 as making “various changes to streamline the CalWORKs program,” clarifying the new foster‑care tiered‑rate structure and making implementation of the new rates subject to appropriation. She said the bill requires the Department of Social Services to develop a standardized curriculum for mandated reporters and asks employers to “strongly encourage” staff who are mandated reporters to complete the training. The bill also directs the Department of Social Services to develop a strategic plan for implementing outreach strategies to maximize CalFresh benefits uptake and eliminates the county dollar‑for‑dollar match requirement for the Home Safe and Bringing Families Home programs.
Senator María Durazo (identified in the hearing as Senator Durazo) voiced support for the CalWORKs reforms, noting CalWORKs “is now serving almost 700,000 of our poorest children and families,” and said the package focuses assistance on low‑income families. Public commenter Louann Wynn of the Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations said advocates had worked with state staff and thanked the committee for advancing the “Reimagine CalWORKs” efforts, while urging hearings and public outreach to address related changes in federal programs and other benefit programs.
Nick Schroeder of the Legislative Analyst’s Office explained a separate question the committee raised about retirement and benefits funding: the AB 119 package contains provisions that affect employer and employee contributions to certain benefit trusts, and LAO staff said the state contributions enter a trust separate from the pension fund. Committee members pressed for follow‑up on whether other local employers will share liability if contributions are suspended; LAO staff agreed to follow up.
Senator Laird moved to pass AB 119. The committee recorded a final vote of 13 to 5 in favor, sending AB 119 out of committee.
The bill includes programmatic changes that require later appropriations for implementation and tasks the Department of Social Services with both training and outreach duties; public witnesses representing welfare advocates urged continued public engagement as the reforms move forward.
