Community colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program: eligibility and services.

Assembly Member Bryan's proposal to modify California's CalWORKs Recipients Education Program would expand access to educational support services at community colleges by including parents and guardians whose dependents receive CalWORKs benefits. The legislation modifies existing program parameters to allow full funding of work-study positions and adds direct aid for basic needs to the list of authorized support services.

The bill revises funding mechanisms for participating employers in the program's work-study component by permitting community colleges to cover 100% of student wages, eliminating the current requirement that employers contribute at least 25% of wages. For subsidized childcare services, the proposal maintains existing eligibility rules requiring recipients to engage in welfare-to-work activities while pursuing their initial education and training plans, with coverage extending three months beyond completion or until the academic year ends, whichever is longer.

Under the measure's provisions, the California Community Colleges Chancellor would continue allocating funds to districts based on their CalWORKs recipient enrollment numbers. These allocations support services including job placement assistance, coordination with county welfare offices and workforce boards, childcare, work-study opportunities, instruction, post-employment skills training, and campus-based case management. The addition of direct aid for basic needs expands the scope of available support while maintaining prohibitions on duplicating services provided through other categorical programs or county caseworkers.