Committee approves bill to expand supports for CalWORKs student‑parents

The Assembly Higher Education Committee advanced AB 18 29, a bill aimed at strengthening financial supports for low‑income student‑parents participating in CalWORKs REP at California Community Colleges. The measure would allow existing CalWORKs REP funding to be used for direct aid for basic needs and let local programs waive the 25% employer match for off‑campus work study positions to expand employment opportunities.

Reynold Garcia, president of the CalWORKs Association and director at Los Angeles City College, testified that more flexible funding and removal of the employer match barrier could expand access to off‑campus work study and help student‑parents remain enrolled. “Work study is not just a paycheck. It is a lifeline,” Garcia said.

Roshanda Henson, a CalWORKs work study student at Saddleback College, described juggling classes, parenting and work and said direct aid and flexible supports are critical to staying enrolled and completing a degree. The Chancellor’s Office and the Community College Chancellor’s Office representatives supported the bill in concept and offered technical assistance.

Some committee members expressed concern that waiving the employer match could increase fraud risk or shift costs to taxpayers; sponsors said programs would retain controls and that the bill was amended to clarify local discretion to waive the match rather than federally eliminating matching rules.

The committee voted to refer AB 18 29 as amended to the Human Services Committee. Sponsors said the bill aims to make CalWORKs REP more flexible so student‑parents can meet basic needs and access employment and training.