Truancy: CalWORKs: school attendance.

Assembly Member Ahrens proposes fundamental changes to California's approach to truancy through legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties for parents while restructuring how the CalWORKs program handles school attendance requirements. The bill removes provisions that currently reduce welfare grants for families whose teenage children are chronically absent from school, instead mandating that counties screen these families for stabilization services.

Under the new framework, county human services agencies would be required to offer support services to families struggling with school attendance rather than imposing financial penalties. Children age 16 and older would gain the option to voluntarily participate in welfare-to-work programs, accessing services like vocational education, job readiness training, and mental health support - provided these activities complement rather than interfere with their education. The bill maintains eligibility for school attendance support services regardless of a child's attendance status.

The legislation establishes July 1, 2026 as its implementation date, or later if needed for the State Department of Social Services to update automated systems. While expanding county responsibilities, the bill specifies that no additional state funding will be allocated through the standard CalWORKs appropriation process. Counties may seek reimbursement for new mandated costs through existing state procedures.

These changes represent a shift from using grant reductions and criminal charges to address truancy toward providing voluntary support services aimed at helping families overcome barriers to school attendance. The bill maintains compulsory education requirements while modifying how they intersect with public assistance programs.