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AB 363

Relating to: establishing a dairy cattle innovation program. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Elijah Behnke and 8 co-sponsors

Expands CalWORKs Education Program eligibility and services for more students, allows broader direct aid, ends subsidized childcare time limits, and increases workstudy employer wa

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AB 363

AB 363 — Summary (Bryan)

Community colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program — eligibility and services

Status: Introduced Feb 3, 2025. Last action: In committee — Held under submission (May 23, 2025). Referred to Assembly Higher Education, Human Services, and Appropriations; fiscal committee review required.

Purpose / Intent

AB 363 amends the Education Code to broaden who may access the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program (a community college program funded “to the extent that funding is provided in the annual Budget Act”) and to expand allowable program services. The Legislature states the intent remains to assist program participants prepare for employment.

Key provisions

  • Eligibility

    • Expands the definition of “CalWORKs recipient” to include a person whose dependent is a recipient of CalWORKs cash aid.
    • Explicitly allows enrollment of students who have exceeded the 60‑month CalWORKs cash aid time limit if they have one or more dependents who are CalWORKs aid recipients.
    • Defines “program participant” to include students meeting these expanded criteria.

  • Program services and funding

    • Adds “direct aid designed to meet ongoing basic needs and services” as a permissible special service using program funds (bill text refers to specifics).
    • Removes the statutory cap that limited subsidized campus childcare to students engaged in particular activities and to the period through completion of the initial education plan plus up to three months (or end of academic year). The bill deletes this time limit, allowing broader provision subject to available funding.

  • Workstudy

    • Authorizes program payments to employers to cover up to 100% of workstudy wages (current law limits program payments to 75% and requires employers to pay at least 25%).
    • Deletes the employer 25% minimum contribution requirement; permits programs to waive that employer contribution requirement provided the number of workstudy positions will not decrease.

Who is affected

  • Community college students who are current CalWORKs recipients, students whose dependents receive CalWORKs, and students who have exhausted CalWORKs time limits but have dependents on aid.
  • California community college districts and campus CalWORKs programs (administration, childcare, workstudy arrangements).
  • Employers participating in workstudy placements (changes employer cost responsibilities).
  • County welfare departments and local partners engaged in program planning.
  • Potentially local agencies if new responsibilities impose costs.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • The bill was referred to fiscal/appropriations review; the Legislative Counsel’s Digest flags potential local program mandate implications.
  • AB 363 contains a reimbursement clause: if the Commission on State Mandates determines it imposes state‑mandated costs, reimbursement would follow statutory procedures.
  • Many provisions remain subject to available funding in the annual Budget Act.

Legislative progress

  • Introduced Feb 3, 2025; amended in committee (March–April 2025); passed out of Human Services and re‑referred to Appropriations; held under submission as of May 23, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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