Education finance: Classified School Employee Summer Assistance Program.

Assembly Member Valencia's legislation expands access to California's Classified School Employee Summer Assistance Program by enabling joint powers authorities composed of school districts and county offices of education to participate alongside individual districts and county offices. The program allows eligible classified employees to withhold portions of their monthly pay during the academic year, with matching state funds provided during summer recess.

Under the expanded definition, joint powers authorities formed through the Joint Exercise of Powers Act may elect to join the program, following the same participation requirements as existing local educational agencies. Participating entities must notify employees by January 1 of their intent to participate in the following school year. Eligible classified employees - those employed for at least one year, working 11 months or fewer annually, and earning less than $62,400 - may elect to have up to 10 percent of their monthly pay withheld and matched with state funds for summer distribution.

The program's core operational framework remains unchanged, with the Department of Education apportioning matched funds within 30 days of payment requests from participating agencies. Employees receive their withheld wages plus matched state funds in either one or two payments during summer recess, based on their selected distribution preference. The program continues to operate subject to annual budget appropriations, with provisions for prorated matching if requests exceed available funding.