California Cradle-to-Career Data System.

Senator Laird's proposal to expand California's Cradle-to-Career Data System would authorize new data sharing between the Franchise Tax Board and the state's education-to-employment pipeline tracking system. The legislation creates a framework for the Tax Board to share specific state tax return information with the Data System while maintaining existing privacy protections.

Under the proposed changes, the Tax Board could provide the Data System with taxpayer-reported information including adjusted gross income, residence details, and claims for specific tax credits such as the California Earned Income Tax Credit and Foster Youth Tax Credit. The bill explicitly prohibits sharing federal tax information and limits data usage to specific administrative purposes. Any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of shared tax information would constitute a misdemeanor under state law.

The data sharing would occur through formal information sharing and participation agreements between the agencies. While the bill expands the scope of tax information that can be disclosed, it maintains existing confidentiality requirements and criminal penalties for improper disclosure. The legislation specifies that local agencies and school districts are not entitled to state reimbursement for any costs associated with these changes, as the bill only modifies criminal statutes.