CA AB 320
enactedPublic social services: eligibility: income exclusions.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did CA AB 320 pass?
Yes. CA AB 320 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-13. Latest recorded action (2025-10-13): Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 686, Statutes of 2025.
What is CA AB 320 about?
Existing law establishes various means-tested public social services programs administered by counties to provide eligible recipients with certain benefits, including, but not limited to, cash assistance under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law establishes various awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission and establishes eligibility requirements for these awards for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for their governance. Existing law establishes county boards of education and school districts throughout the state to administer the public elementary and secondary schools within their respective jurisdictions. Existing law requires county boards of education and school district governing boards to appoint at least one high school pupil as a pupil member of the board in response to a petition from high school pupils requesting the appointment of one or more pupil members. Existing law authorizes the county board of education and the governing board of a school district to award a pupil member elective course credit or monthly financial compensation, or both, as provided. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit that compensation from being considered as income or resources when determining eligibility and benefit amount for any means-tested program and any scholarships for public colleges and universities, as specified. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for programs administered by counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement, interpret, or make specific the income exclusion for programs under its jurisdiction by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The bill would specify that its provisions apply to programs under the department's jurisdiction beginning on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the income exclusion for those programs. The bill would require the department to issue guidance as necessary to begin automation no later than July 1, 2026. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Who sponsors CA AB 320?
Bennett is the primary sponsor of CA AB 320.
Description
Existing law establishes various means-tested public social services programs administered by counties to provide eligible recipients with certain benefits, including, but not limited to, cash assistance under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and health care services under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law establishes various awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission and establishes eligibility requirements for these awards for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for their governance. Existing law establishes county boards of education and school districts throughout the state to administer the public elementary and secondary schools within their respective jurisdictions. Existing law requires county boards of education and school district governing boards to appoint at least one high school pupil as a pupil member of the board in response to a petition from high school pupils requesting the appointment of one or more pupil members. Existing law authorizes the county board of education and the governing board of a school district to award a pupil member elective course credit or monthly financial compensation, or both, as provided. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit that compensation from being considered as income or resources when determining eligibility and benefit amount for any means-tested program and any scholarships for public colleges and universities, as specified. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for programs administered by counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement, interpret, or make specific the income exclusion for programs under its jurisdiction by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The bill would specify that its provisions apply to programs under the department's jurisdiction beginning on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the income exclusion for those programs. The bill would require the department to issue guidance as necessary to begin automation no later than July 1, 2026. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
- Introduced
- 2025-01-24
- Latest action
- 2025-10-13 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 686, Statutes of 2025.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Bennettauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2025-01-24
Introduced. To print.
introduction
2025-01-25
From printer. May be heard in committee February 24.
2025-01-27
Read first time.
reading-1
2025-02-10
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
referral-committee
2025-03-11
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-30
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-01
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-08
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1485.)
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-08
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
reading-1,referral-committee
2025-05-21
Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and ED.
referral-committee
2025-06-17
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 16).
amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee
2025-06-18
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-02
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-14
In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
referral-committee
2025-08-29
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-02
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-03
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-08
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2592.).
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-08
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-09
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3102.).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-16
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-10-13
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2025-10-13
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 686, Statutes of 2025.
became-law
Versions
Documents
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Votes
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
2025-03-11 · pass · 6-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Lee: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Essayli: other
Do pass. To Consent Calendar.
2025-04-30 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Dixon: yes
- Hart: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ta: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Solache: yes
- Fong: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Pellerin: other
AB 320 Bennett Consent Calendar Second Day
2025-05-08 · pass · 69-0
Member-level votes (79)
- Gabriel: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Bains: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Berman: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Chen: yes
- Haney: yes
- Macedo: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Ward: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Davies: yes
- Hart: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Papan: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Fong: yes
- Patel: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Lee: yes
- Solache: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Krell: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Soria: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Addis: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Ta: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: other
- Carrillo: other
- Arambula: other
- Irwin: other
- Gallagher: other
- Celeste Rodriguez: other
- Wallis: other
- Flora: other
- Boerner: other
- Sanchez: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Education]
2025-06-16 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (5)
- Arreguín: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Limón: yes
- Becker: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar
2025-07-02 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Choi: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Laird: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
Placed on suspense file
2025-07-14 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Cabaldon: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Seyarto: yes
Do pass
2025-08-29 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
3rd Reading AB320 Bennett By Arreguín
2025-09-08 · pass · 38-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Wahab: yes
- Niello: yes
- Jones: yes
- Laird: yes
- Choi: yes
- Rubio: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Limón: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Allen: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Grove: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Becker: yes
- Stern: other
- Cabaldon: other
AB 320 Bennett Concurrence in Senate Amendments
2025-09-09 · pass · 80-0
Member-level votes (80)
- Addis: yes
- Haney: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Berman: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Zbur: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Hart: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Soria: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Papan: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Davies: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Krell: yes
- Chen: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Bains: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Lee: yes
- Castillo: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Ta: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Ward: yes
- Fong: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Flora: yes
- Garcia: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
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