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Committee advances AB 1074 to clarify CalWORKs reunification eligibility and remove administrative barriers
Summary
AB 1074 (presented as AB 10 74) was advanced after sponsors said the bill closes statutory gaps that prevent parents from receiving reunification aid when children are temporarily placed outside the home; advocates called the changes fiscally prudent and better for reunification outcomes.
Assemblymember Patel presented AB 1074 (noted in committee as "AB 10 74"), which clarifies and restores intent to the CalWORKs family reunification program created in prior legislation. The bill seeks to remove unintended administrative barriers that can prevent parents from receiving cash aid and supportive services while working toward reunification.
Rebecca Gonzales of the Western Center on Law and Poverty (cosponsor) told the committee that the Department of Social Services issued guidance in 2021 that restricted access to benefits in ways inconsistent with legislative intent. AB 1074 would, among other things: allow reunification aid when not all children in the family are removed from the home; permit continuation of reunification aid in cases of partial reunification or when an eligible child is later added; lift sanctions based on immunization verification when that verification is unavailable because the child no longer lives at home; ensure families remain eligible for their current CalWORKs benefit level even if a parent is not personally receiving aid; and harmonize welfare‑to‑work and reunification requirements into a single plan.
Supporters argued the changes will reduce barriers to reunification, avoid costlier foster care placements, and promote stability. Witnesses included Western Center and the Coalition for California Welfare Rights Organizations. No registered opposition spoke at the hearing.
The committee advanced AB 1074 to Appropriations; members framed the bill as both improving family outcomes and saving state dollars because foster care placements are more expensive than keeping families together.
What happens next: AB 1074 moves to Appropriations for a fiscal review and further committee consideration.
