Existing law provides that county boards of education and school district governing boards may provide a student member elective course credit and monthly financial compensation. AB 320 provides that, to the extent permitted by federal law, any such compensation paid to a student member shall not be considered as income or resources when determining eligibility and the amount of benefits for any means-tested program under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Services (DSS), including but not limited to the following:
- CalWORKs;
- General Assistance;
- Medi-Cal;
- Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants; and
- Any scholarships for public colleges and universities, including Cal Grant awards, Chafee grant awards, Middle Class Scholarship Program awards, California College Promise Grants, California State University Educational Opportunity Program grants, Community College Extended Opportunity Programs and Services grants, and grants from the University of California or the California State University.
AB 320 shall apply when DSS notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement AB 320. DSS must issue guidance to begin automation no later than July 1, 2026.
(AB 320 adds Sections 1090.1 and 35120.1 to the Education Code and Section 11157.3 to the Welfare and Institutions Code.)
