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Committee sends measure to Appropriations to develop statewide guaranteed basic income implementation plan
Summary
AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for a permanent guaranteed basic income program; the committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a 5–2 recorded vote.
The Assembly Committee on Human Services voted to pass AB 661, introduced by Assemblymember Rodriguez on behalf of Chair Lee, which would require the California Department of Social Services to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for a statewide guaranteed basic income program.
Supporters cited evidence from local pilot programs and argued that regular, modest cash payments help recipients stabilize housing, pursue education or job training, and reduce poverty. Brian Ram, who participated in a local pilot, told the committee that the payments allowed him to maintain a household and reduce caregiving stress. Lauren Dalbert, a disabled veteran and community pilot implementer, said local pilots are “a doorway to that better way,” adding that pilots were designed by community members “not to prove whether guaranteed income works because we already know it does, but so that I could be here today not just telling my poverty story.”
Supporters included county and nonprofit representatives — Martha Guerrero for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Whitney Francis of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, Sam Wilkinson of the child poverty coalition, and others — who urged the committee to direct DSS to prepare a plan with input from experts and program participants.
The committee recorded a motion to pass AB 661 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The roll call reflected five ayes and two no votes (Castillo and Assely/Asali), and the bill was reported out on that vote.
