Asm. Robert Rivas

This measure would declare August 2022 as Valley Fever Awareness Month.

This measure would declare the month of September 2022 as California Emergency Preparedness Month.

Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Under the CalWORKs program, recipients are required to participate in specified welfare-to-work activities, except for specified persons, including a parent or other relative who has primary responsibility for personally providing care to a child 6 months of age or under, except that the period may be reduced to the first 12 weeks after birth or adoption or increased to the first 12 months after birth or adoption. Existing law authorizes an individual to be exempted only once pursuant to that exemption, and requires a 12-week exemption for any subsequent children, except as specified. Existing law also exempts a parent or other caretaker relative who has primary responsibility for personally providing care to one child from birth to 23 months and authorizes an individual to be exempted pursuant to this provision once. Existing law authorizes an individual not required to participate in welfare-to-work activities to participate voluntarily if the individual's status has not changed in a way that would require participation. This bill would, among other things, expand the exemption for a parent or other relative providing care to a child by instead exempting parents and other relatives who have primary responsibility for personally providing care to a child 2 years of age or younger, for up to 24 cumulative months for the same child or for a combination of that child and subsequent children. For a 2-parent family, the bill would authorize only one parent to claim that exemption and would authorize the parents to notify the county of the parent claiming the exemption. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to develop a method for counties to allocate the exemption period between parents if parents do not notify the county which parent is claiming the exemption. The bill would also exempt, for up to 4 months, a recipient who is disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, as specified, and would require the county to extend the period if there is a statement from the recipient's health care provider that the recipient needs more time. By expanding eligibility for CalWORKs, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require that an individual who is exempt from participating in welfare-to-work activities pursuant to the above-described exemptions be provided a notice of action informing the individual that, among other things, they are exempt from participation and they have the right to voluntarily participate in a welfare-to-work activity of their choice. The bill would require that notice of action to be accompanied by a specified form relating to voluntary participation. The bill would require a voluntary participant's welfare-to-work plan to be deemed adopted if the county fails to act on the plan within 30 days of receiving it. By increasing county duties relating to the administration of the CalWORKs program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions by all-county letter or similar instruction and would require the all-county letter or similar instruction to be issued no later than April 1, 2023. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing these provisions. 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.

(1) Existing law requires a certificated employee of a school district or a county superintendent of schools with an average daily attendance of 250 pupils or more, who completes 2 consecutive school years and is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification, to become and be classified as a permanent employee of the school district or county superintendent of schools. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils to classify as a permanent employee of the district any employee who, after having been employed by the school district for 3 complete consecutive school years in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications, is reelected for the next succeeding school year to a position requiring certification qualifications. If that classification is not made, existing law prohibits the employee from attaining permanent status and authorizes the employee to be reelected from year to year thereafter without becoming a permanent employee until a change in classification is made. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, require a certificated employee of a school district or a county superintendent of schools, regardless of the average daily attendance of the school district or county superintendent of schools, who completes 2 consecutive school years and is so reelected to become and be classified as a permanent employee, as provided. (2) Existing law requires a probationary employee who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days the regular schools of the school district in which the employee is employed are maintained to be deemed to have served a complete school year. Existing law also requires a probationary employee of an evening school who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days the evening schools of the school district in which the employee is employed are in session to be deemed to have served a complete school year. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, require a probationary employee employed in an assignment that is less than full time but at least 60% of the number of hours of a full-time assignment, and who, in any one school year, has served for at least 75% of the number of days required of the assignment in which the employee is employed to be deemed to have served a complete school year. The bill also would require a probationary employee of an adult education program to be deemed to have served a complete school year if the employee serves for at least 75% of the hours constituting a full-time equivalent position for adult education programs in the school district. The bill would specify that, to the extent the provisions of the bill conflict with any provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into before July 1, 2023, by a public school employer and an exclusive bargaining representative, the provisions of the bill would not apply to the school district until the expiration or renewal of that collective bargaining agreement. (3) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ certificated employees in programs and projects to perform services conducted under contract with public or private agencies, or categorically funded projects that are not required by federal or state law. Existing law prohibits service pursuant to that authorization from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee unless the person served at least 75% of the number of days the regular schools of the school district are maintained, and the person is subsequently employed as a probationary employee in a position requiring certification qualifications. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, specify that these provisions do not apply to a teacher of classes for adults. (4) Existing law authorizes the establishment of regional occupational centers or programs to provide career technical education and technical training to pupils. Existing law requires instruction in those centers or programs to only be given by a qualified teacher holding a certificate, as provided, but prohibits service by a person as an instructor in classes conducted at regional occupational centers or programs from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, repeal that prohibition on the service by a person as an instructor in classes conducted at regional occupational centers or programs from being included in computing the service required as a prerequisite to attainment of, or eligibility to, classification as a permanent employee of a school district. (5) Existing law authorizes the dismissal of first- and 2nd-year probationary employees of a school district during the school year for unsatisfactory performance or for cause, pursuant to specified procedures. Existing law specifies that those provisions do not apply to probationary employees in a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils. Existing law prohibits the governing board of a school district with an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils from dismissing probationary employees during the school year, except for cause, pursuant to separate procedures. However, existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district having an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils to elect to dismiss probationary employees pursuant to the procedures applicable to probationary employees of a school district having an average daily attendance of 250 or more pupils. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2023, delete the procedures specific to probationary employees of a school district with an average daily attendance of less than 250 pupils, thereby subjecting all probationary employees, regardless of the average daily attendance of the school district, to the same dismissal procedures. The bill would also delete obsolete references, update references, and make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, and the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as the 2 segments of public postsecondary education in the state generally authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of the segments of postsecondary education in this state. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the regents act, by appropriate resolution, to make those provisions applicable. A provision of the act expresses the intent of the Legislature that, in determining the standards and criteria for undergraduate and graduate admissions to the University of California and the California State University, the governing bodies of the segments develop processes that, among other things, strive to be fair and are easily understandable. This bill would require the trustees, and request the regents, before adopting a change in undergraduate student eligibility policy that adds new eligibility requirements, as described, that impact students across its segment, to engage in public discussions with and coordinate with other educational segments that will be impacted by the policy to understand the impacts of the policy in order to try to align preparation and their respective student eligibility policies. The bill would also require the trustees, and request the regents, to commission an independent study by a third-party research organization to assess the impact of the change in student eligibility policy on the eligibility rates of the graduates of public secondary schools who are members of underrepresented student groups, and specifically examine the impact on eligibility and admission rates of all high school graduates, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, income, and region. The bill would also require, or request, as applicable, if either the trustees or the regents approve a change in student eligibility policy that adds new eligibility requirements that impact students across its segment, that an implementation committee, that meets publicly and with members selected as designated, be convened to develop a multiyear plan for that segment to work with the public elementary and secondary school system, the California Community Colleges, and the governing body of the other segment to implement the change, and would require in those circumstances the implementation committee to provide annual progress reports to the Governor, the Legislature, and the governing bodies of the two segments, as specified.

Existing law establishes the California College Promise, under the administration of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, to provide funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements. Existing law authorizes a community college to use that funding to waive some or all of the fees for 2 academic years for certain first-time students at the college who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent, or less for students certified as "full time," as specified, and who complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application, except for students who have previously earned a degree or certificate from a postsecondary educational institution. This bill would make returning students, as defined, also eligible for the fee waiver.

Existing federal law, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) , governs the proceedings for determining the placement of an Indian child when that child is removed from the custody of the child's parent or guardian. Existing law specifies that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interest of an Indian child by promoting practices in accordance with ICWA. Existing law authorizes a federally recognized tribe to approve a home for the purpose of foster or adoptive placement of an Indian child pursuant to ICWA and authorizes a tribe to designate a tribal organization to do the same. This bill would establish the Tribally Approved Homes Compensation Program to provide funding to eligible tribes and tribal organizations in California to assist in funding the costs associated with recruiting and approving homes for the purpose of foster or adoptive placement of an Indian child pursuant to ICWA, as described above. The bill would, subject to an appropriation for this purpose in the annual Budget Act, require the State Department of Social Services to provide annual allocations of $75,000 to eligible tribes and tribal organizations in each fiscal year and would require a tribe or tribal organization to submit to the department a letter of intent for funding, as specified, in order to be eligible for the funding allocation. The bill would require a tribe or tribal organization that receives funding pursuant to the program to submit a progress report to the department following the close of the fiscal year in which an allocation was received that includes details about how many homes were approved, recruitment efforts, and challenges experienced during the fiscal year that was funded and would require the department to annually compile those progress reports and submit a report to the Legislature, as specified.

(1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state. This system comprises local educational agencies throughout the state that provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, at schoolsites operated by these agencies. Existing law requires the governing board of a school district and the county superintendent of schools to make applications for free or reduced-price meals available to pupils at all times during each regular schoolday. Existing law authorizes the governing boards of school districts and county superintendents of schools to make applications for free or reduced-price meals electronically available online. Existing law specifies requirements to be met by the governing boards of school districts, county offices of education, and school food authorities that choose to provide access to an online application. This bill would require applications for free or reduced-price meals made electronically available online by school district governing boards or county offices of education to comply with specified requirements, including provisions prohibiting the misuse of information provided online by applicants. The bill would require applications for free and reduced-price meals, which are authorized to be submitted at any time during a schoolday, to be processed within 10 days of submission. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on local educational agencies, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would make private third-party vendors who violate its provisions subject to specified civil penalties. The bill would specify that its provisions would not prevent the use of information provided by a school meal applicant from being used by a governmental entity to increase access to a government-administered anti-hunger program. The bill would authorize each school district and county superintendent of schools to establish a secured internet website providing access to an online data collection form as part of the annual enrollment process, and would require the department to host a sample application by July 1, 2024, unless the Superintendent of Public Instruction determines that use of the form would negatively impact the local control funding formula. (2) Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , administered in California as CalFresh, under which each county distributes nutrition assistance benefits provided by the federal government to eligible households. Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families using federal, state, and county funds. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. Existing federal law provides for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, under which the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States is authorized to approve state plans to provide eligible children with temporary emergency nutrition assistance benefits during fiscal years 2020 and 2021 in any case in which a school is closed or has reduced the number of days or hours that students attend the school during a public health emergency designation during which the school would otherwise be in session. This bill would establish the Better Out of School Time (BOOST) Nutrition EBT Program, to be administered by the State Department of Social Services, to provide benefits to eligible pupils during regularly scheduled summer breaks. The bill would make eligible pupils who receive benefits under Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or CalWORKs, or are in foster care. The bill would make implementation of the BOOST Nutrition EBT Program contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes. The bill would require the department to seek all available funding for, and maximize participation in, the P-EBT program. The bill would also require the department to issue BOOST Nutrition EBT benefits to any pupil who was eligible to receive benefits under the P-EBT program, as of July 1, 2021, for the 5-month period following the end of the P-EBT program, and any child who was eligible to receive benefits under the P-EBT program, as of July 1, 2021, for the 5-month period following the end of the P-EBT program and who also receives benefits under Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or CalWORKs, or is in foster care. By imposing new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.

Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council in state government consisting of various state agency heads and 3 public members. Existing law requires the council, among other things, to identify and review activities and funding programs of state agencies that may be coordinated to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, encourage sustainable land use planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner. This bill, until January 1, 2026, would create the Farmworker Climate Resilience Adaptation Program, to be administered by the Strategic Growth Council, to award grants totaling $20,000,000 to eligible entities for the development and implementation of projects addressing the needs of farmworkers, their families, and communities for sustainable and equitable adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The bill would require the program to be guided by the Farmworker Climate Resilience Adaptation Task Force established by this bill, to be composed as specified, and would require the task force to meet not less than 6 times before June 30, 2023, as specified. The bill would require the task force to make recommendations about projects funded under this program and, on or before June 30, 2023, to report its findings and recommendations to the Strategic Growth Council, the state agencies involved in the task force, the Legislature, and the Governor. The bill would make the implementation of this program contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for this purpose.