AB-1829 • 2026

Community colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program: services.

Budget Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Fong
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about direct aid services or the extent of required additional funding.

Community Colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program

This bill adds direct aid and services designed to meet ongoing basic needs for CalWORKs recipients at community colleges, changes the goal of special services from long-term self-sufficiency to economic mobility, and allows programs to waive employer contributions to workstudy wages if it does not reduce workstudy positions.

What This Bill Does

Adds direct aid and services designed to meet ongoing basic needs for CalWORKs recipients as a special service that can be funded by the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program.
Changes the goal of special services from achieving long-term self-sufficiency to economic mobility through coordinated student services at community colleges.
Allows programs to waive the requirement that employers pay 25% of workstudy wages if it does not reduce the number of workstudy positions.

Who It Names or Affects

CalWORKs recipients who are students at community colleges
Community college districts providing educational and special services to CalWORKs recipient students

Terms To Know

CalWORKs Recipients Education Program: A program in California's community colleges that provides educational and special services to recipients of aid under the CalWORKs program.
Economic Mobility: The ability for individuals or families to improve their economic status over time, often through education and job opportunities.

Limits and Unknowns

By expanding program services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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 statutory provisions.

Bill History

2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (March 17).
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HIGHER ED. and HUM. S.
2026-02-12 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1829, as amended, Fong.
Community colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program: services.
Existing law establishes the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals using federal, state, and county funds. Existing law establishes the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program (program) in the California Community Colleges under which community college districts are required to provide educational services and special services to recipients of aid under CalWORKs who are attending a community college, to the extent funding is provided in the annual Budget Act. Existing law requires special services for CalWORKs recipients to assist CalWORKs recipient students and those students transitioning off of CalWORKs in achieving long-term self-sufficiency through coordinated student services offered at a community college. Existing law authorizes
those special services to include workstudy. Existing law prohibits program payments to an employer for workstudy from exceeding 75% of the wage for the workstudy positions and requires an employer to pay at least 25% of the wage for the workstudy positions.
This bill would add direct aid designed to meet ongoing basic needs and services, as described, as a special service for which program funds may be used. The bill would
also
require special services for CalWORKs recipients to
instead
assist
program participants
CalWORKs recipient students and those students transitioning off of CalWORKs
in achieving economic mobility through coordinated student services offered at a community college. The bill would authorize programs to waive the requirement that an employer pay at least 25% of the wage for workstudy positions if the number of on-campus and off-campus workstudy positions will not decrease. By expanding program services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.

Current Bill Text

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