Public social services: higher education.

Assembly Member Arambula's legislation to address student basic needs expands coordination between county social services agencies and California's public higher education institutions, responding to data showing more than half of the state's college students face housing insecurity while nearly two-thirds report food insecurity.

The measure requires county human services agencies to incorporate input from campus basic needs directors and coordinators when developing protocols for connecting students with social services. It directs the State Department of Social Services to create specialized training on public assistance programs, focusing on student-specific factors like financial aid implications and work requirements. The training will be available to basic needs staff, campus service providers, and county eligibility workers.

To facilitate ongoing collaboration, the department must convene quarterly workgroup meetings bringing together county liaisons, campus basic needs directors, and representatives from the California State University, California Community Colleges, and University of California systems. This group will share best practices, address implementation challenges, and identify statewide issues affecting student access to assistance programs. Beginning May 2027, the department will report to the Legislature every three years on enrollment trends and recommendations for improving student utilization of available services.

The bill maintains existing relationships between counties and campuses while adding structure around information sharing and coordination. Counties remain encouraged to provide details about social services office locations and application processes to nearby campuses, which can then disseminate this information through student services channels. All information sharing must comply with applicable confidentiality laws.