Public social services: county liaison for higher education.

Existing law provides for the protection, care, and assistance for the people of the state, and the promotion of the welfare and happiness of all people in the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the needy and distressed. Under existing law, counties are responsible for administering the various public social services programs and related services, including, but not limited to, CalFresh and general assistance benefits. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, locations of the California State University, and campuses of the University of California throughout the state. This bill would require a county human services agency to designate at least one employee as a staff liaison to serve as a point of contact for academic counselors and other professional staff at a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county. The bill would require any disclosure or sharing of personal information under the bill to be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws. The bill would require a county human services agency, with input from the public institutions of higher learning in the county, to develop protocols for engagement between the staff liaison and a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county and would encourage those entities to consult with specified stakeholders in the development of those protocols. The bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement its provisions by all-county letters or similar instructions. By requiring counties to perform new duties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would also require the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University and the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and request the Office of the President of the University of California, in collaboration with county human services agencies, to conduct a survey to determine the effectiveness of the county liaison position and submit, on or before January 1, 2025, a report with the results of the survey to specified legislative committees and the State Department of Social Services. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2026. 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.