Public social services: benefits for students.

Under existing law, the State Department of Social Services administers various social services programs, such as the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, to provide benefits to eligible individuals. Existing law requires counties to administer these programs. Existing law requires a county human services agency to designate at least one employee as a staff liaison, as provided. Existing law requires the staff liaison to serve as a point of contact for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county and provide information on programs and services offered by the agency that may be available to students attending a campus of an institution of public higher education within the county. This bill would require the department to convene a workgroup that meets quarterly, comprised of relevant stakeholders as needed to share best practices, updates, challenges, or other topics related to programs and services offered by the department that may be available to students attending a campus of an institution of public higher education. The bill would require the department, with input from relevant stakeholders, to, among other things, discuss and examine different approaches or activities that could increase enrollment in programs of eligible students. The bill would require the department, in collaboration with stakeholders, to submit a report, on or before June 30, 2024, and every 3 years thereafter, to the Legislature with findings and recommendations relating to increasing enrollment in programs and services offered by the department that may be available to students, as specified.