SB 290: CalWORKs.
The bill amends the California Welfare and Institutions Code to repeal requirements for children not required to be enrolled in school to be immunized through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWorks) program. The repeal removes the obligation for children admitted to schools, childcare centers, and other institutions to secure immunizations. Instead, the bill requires notice to advise applicants and recipients of the existing obligation to secure immunizations for admission to these institutions. The continuous appropriation of funds for the CalWorks program will not be used to implement these changes.
| Aug. 29, 2025 | August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jul. 17, 2025 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul. 16, 2025 | From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 15). |
| Amended IN Assembly July 17, 2025 |
| Introduced by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas |
February 06, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 11265.8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:11265.8.
(a) All applicants for aid under this chapter, within 30 days of the determination of eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000), and 45 days for applicants already eligible for benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000), and all recipients of aid under this chapter within 45 days of a full or financial redetermination of eligibility for aid under this chapter, shall provide documentation that all children in the assistance unit not required to be enrolled in school have received all age appropriate immunizations, unless it has been medically determined that an immunization for a child is not appropriate or the applicant or recipient has filed with the county welfare department an affidavit that the immunizations are contrary to the applicant’s or recipient’s beliefs. If the county determines that good cause exists for not providing the required documentation due to lack of reasonable access to immunization services, the period shall be extended by an additional 30 days. A circumstance that shall constitute good cause includes, but is not limited to, the applicant or recipient does not have reasonable access to immunization services due to a situation of domestic violence. If the documentation is not provided within the required time period, the needs of all parents or caretaker relatives in the assistance unit shall not be considered in determining the grant to the assistance unit under Section 11450 until the required documentation is provided. The department shall track and maintain information concerning the number of sanctions imposed under this section.SEC. 2.
Section 11265.8 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:11265.8.
(a) At the time of application and at the next redetermination of eligibility for aid under this chapter, all applicants and recipients shall be given notice advising them of their obligation to secure the immunizations required in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 120325) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 105 of the Health and Safety Code. The notice shall also contain(1)The Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule, United States, and the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children Not Immunized on Schedule in the First Year of Life, as appropriate, approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
SEC. 3.
No appropriation pursuant to Section 15200 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be made for purposes of this act.