CalWORKs.

The bill was reformatted from a formal enrolled document (with page numbers, chapter heading, and traditional legislative layout) to a web page presentation with navigation elements, a bill information sidebar, version history, and status dates.

Web page navigation elements were added including quick search, bill information links, version selector, and share options.

A digest key was added showing Vote: MAJORITY, Appropriation: NO, Fiscal Committee: YES, Local Program: YES.

All amendments to Section 11157 regarding income exemptions were removed from the bill. This eliminates proposed exemptions for in-kind gifts, income paid to noncustodial parents, guaranteed income payments, HOPE trust account funds, pandemic unemployment compensation, and census work stipends.

Section 11250.4 on strikes and lockouts was completely reversed. The prior version allowed CalWORKs aid to continue if a caretaker relative was on strike or lockout, and included needs of other striking individuals in the aid calculation. The new version denies aid entirely if a caretaker relative is on strike (unless the strike is necessitated by an imminent health and safety hazard or abnormally dangerous working conditions as determined by Cal/OSHA), and excludes the needs of other striking individuals from the aid amount.

Multiple provisions now include operative dates of July 1, 2026, or the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform necessary automation, whichever is later. The prior versions had no such conditional operative dates for these sections.

The CalWORKs expansion feasibility study deadline was extended from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028.

Section 11322.6 (welfare-to-work activities) was restructured from a flat alphabetical list into two main categories: educational activities and work activities, with more detailed subcategories under each. A sunset provision was added making the section inoperative on July 1, 2026 or upon SWANS automation readiness.

The strike/lockout provision now explicitly includes 'parent' alongside 'caretaker relative,' broadening who is covered by the new denial-of-aid rule for striking workers.

Removed the requirement that a parent work less than 100 hours in the preceding four weeks and meet federal AFDC program requirements to qualify as an unemployed parent. Now a child is considered deprived of parental support regardless of how many hours the parent works, as long as the family does not exceed gross or net income limits and is otherwise eligible.

Added exemption for funds deposited and investment returns accrued in a HOPE trust account (established under CalFresh law) from consideration as income and resources for CalWORKs eligibility.

Changed Section 11157 from a temporary provision that becomes inoperative on July 1, 2025 (or when systems are ready) to a permanent provision that becomes operative on July 1, 2025 (or when systems are ready). The sunset/repeal language was removed.

Set the CalWORKs expansion feasibility study deadline to January 1, 2027 (was blank in introduced version) and set the section sunset date to January 1, 2031 (was blank). Added requirement that the report include estimated costs and identified necessary statutory changes for expansion, and that the department consult with the County Welfare Directors Association of California.

Added new welfare-to-work activity categories including adult basic education, job skills training, vocational education and training, job search and job readiness assistance, education directly related to employment, satisfactory progress in secondary school or GED, mental health/substance abuse/domestic violence services, and other activities necessary to obtain unsubsidized employment. Added a limitation that educational activities are only permitted when needed to become employed.

Added requirement that county subsidized employment plans prioritize placements with employers that have a joint labor-management letter of support, signed community benefits agreement, project labor agreement, or labor peace agreement. Also requires plans to address preventing supplanting of public employee work and preventing placement with employers with bad safety records or environmental/labor law violations within the last 10 years.

Expanded the strike provision to explicitly state that aid shall not be payable if a caretaker relative is on strike on the last day of the month (with exceptions for imminent health/safety hazards or lockouts), and that non-caretaker relatives' needs are excluded from aid calculations during a strike. The section still only applies when required by federal law, regulation, or guidance.

Added requirement that the State Department of Social Services include representatives from labor unions and public benefit advocates in consultation when developing the allocation methodology for subsidized employment funding.

Added Assembly Member Lee as a co-author alongside Assembly Member Sharp-Collins.

Income exemptions in Section 11157 were broadened: in-kind gifts and income paid to a noncustodial parent are now exempt from consideration as CalWORKs income regardless of whether they are treated as exempt under the CalFresh program. Previously, the exemption only applied if the item was also exempt under CalFresh.

Strike and lockout provisions in Section 11250.4 were substantially rewritten. The Assembly version prohibited aid when a caretaker relative was striking (with exceptions for imminent health/safety hazards or abnormally dangerous conditions) and limited the section's application to situations required by federal law. The Senate version instead requires that aid SHALL be payable if a caretaker relative is participating in a strike or lockout, to the extent permitted by federal law. The health/safety hazard exceptions were removed entirely.

The deadline for the State Department of Social Services to submit its CalWORKs expansion feasibility study to the Assembly and Senate Human Services Committees was extended from January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028.

CalWORKs Annual Summary reporting requirements were made more specific: the department must now report the name of each employer with greater than 11 employees that provided subsidized employment and the total amount of the subsidized portion of wages paid to CalWORKs participants working for that employer.

A new section was added to conform Section 11322.6 to amendments made by Chapter 79 of the Statutes of 2025, and section numbering throughout the bill was reorganized.