Assembly committee backs study panel to examine needs of undocumented Californians 55 and older

Assemblymember Juan Carrillo introduced AB 450 on April 22 before the Assembly Aging and Long Term Care Committee, asking lawmakers to authorize a task force through the California Department of Aging to study and recommend policy options for undocumented adults age 55 and older.

The bill would create a panel of subject-matter experts and stakeholders to examine housing stability, affordability, access to health and social services, caregiving needs, and other barriers that undocumented older Californians face. "AB 450 would establish a task force with the Department of Aging to develop policy recommendations on how we can better support undocumented adults who are 55 years or older," Assemblymember Carrillo said.

Cynthia Gomez, deputy director of state policy and advocacy with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), testified in support and said nearly 300,000 undocumented Californians are 55 or older and face gaps in retirement benefits and specialized care. "Undocumented older adults in California have raised families, started jobs, and lived significant portions of their lives in our state," Gomez said. Arturo Sierra Morales, a CHIRLA member from the Antelope Valley, described decades of work and paying taxes but lacking access to retirement benefits because of immigration status.

Committee members discussed eligibility and the bill's scope as an initial study rather than a benefits expansion. Committee member questions focused on how the task force would verify long-term residence and contributions for eligibility if future benefit legislation were proposed. Carrillo and others emphasized the bill is limited to developing recommendations and data to inform future policy, not to create a new cash assistance program itself. Carrillo referenced prior legislation (AB 1535) that had sought expanded assistance but did not become law.

The committee received support from several advocacy organizations including the Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Having Our Say Coalition. No witnesses registered opposition at the hearing.

A voice-motion to pass the bill carried in committee. On the roll call recorded later in the hearing, the committee voted to pass AB 450 as amended and re-refer it to the Committee on Appropriations. Votes recorded in the transcript: Doctor Banes — aye; Assemblymember Ellis — aye; Assemblymember Aarons — aye; Avila Farias — aye; Jeff Gonzales — aye; Blanca Rubio — aye. The clerk reported six ayes and left the roll open.

AB 450 is positioned as a study step: if the task force identifies eligible populations and program pathways, Assemblymember Carrillo said he would return with implementing legislation to seek to include the identified population in existing state programs rather than create a wholly new entitlement.

The committee adopted the motion and will forward the bill to the appropriations committee for further review.