Existing law provides for the protection, care, and assistance for the people of the state, and the promotion of the welfare and happiness of all people in the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the needy and distressed. Under existing law, counties are responsible for administering the various public social services programs and related services, including, but not limited to, CalFresh and general assistance benefits.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state.

This bill would require a county welfare human services agency, or any other county agency with similar programmatic responsibilities, to consider establishing a county designate an agency liaison for higher education as a single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other professional staff at local community colleges and other institutions of higher education, located within the county, and to provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agencys jurisdiction to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services. The bill would require the county liaisons duties to be funded using existing resources. The bill would require a disclosure of personal information under the bill to be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws. By requiring counties to perform new duties, 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.

Existing law provides that each person who is involuntarily detained for evaluation or treatment, as specified, or admitted as a voluntary patient for psychiatric evaluation or treatment to a health facility, as specified, and each person who is committed to a state hospital, has certain rights, including the right to see visitors and the right to keep and use personal possessions.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions and correct an obsolete cross-reference.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

AB 2933 (Medina) - Public social services: county liaison for higher education

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

AB 2933 would require a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs to designate an agency liaison for higher education. Additionally, this bill would require the liaison to be the single point of contact in the county agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county.

Fiscal Impact:

Ongoing costs of about $2 million annually for county agencies to designate a liaison to work with community college staff. This makes the assumption that each of the 58 counties would require 0.5 of an employee’s time to serve as a liaison. These costs, initially borne on the county agencies would be reimbursed by the state if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill’s requirements are a reimbursable state mandate.

Background:

CalFresh is an anti-hunger program that is 100% federally funded and provides benefit recipients with ATM-like EBT cards which can be used to purchase qualifying food. Students may qualify for CalFresh if they meet federally established criteria.

The California Community College (CCC) CalWORKs Program works with local county human service offices to provide case management and a myriad of other services to participants, including: academic, career, and personal counseling involving intensive case management; coordination of child care services; career exploration; coordination with off-campus community based organizations for emergency assistance; on-campus student services; and on and off campus subsidized work-study placements. The CCCs CalWORKs program exists in 113 of the state’s community colleges, in addition to one adult education center. There are approximately 30,000 CalWORKs participants enrolled in community colleges throughout the state.

In January 2018, the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor released the Study of Student Basic Needs in order to identify and examine the barriers students face to meeting their basic needs while working to attain their postsecondary educational goals. The study found that 41.6% of CSU students reported food insecurity; and 10.9% of CSU students reported experiencing homelessness in the prior 12 months. This study also found that students who reported experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or both, also experienced physical and mental health consequences that were associated with lower academic achievement; these students reported higher rates of “inactive days” where poor physical or mental health prevented them from engaging in their usual activities, such as work, school, self-care, and leisure activities.

During the fall of 2016, the Los Angeles Community College District surveyed their students and found 62.7% of students surveyed were experiencing food insecurity. Furthermore, 55% of their surveyed students were experiencing some form of housing insecurity, while 18.6% had experienced homelessness in the past year. This study did not survey students’ use of basic needs supports.

In recognition of these needs, the Budget Act of 2017 provided $2.5 million to the University of California (UC), CSU, and CCC to support activities such as CalFresh enrollment, establishing on-campus food pantries, and meal sharing programs.

Ten years ago, Orange County’s Social Services Agency partnered with their local community colleges using a liaison model. The Orange County Social Service Agency formed a close relationship with their local community colleges, realizing that they were both serving the same population of CalWORKs recipients. At this time, it involves four designated Education Liaisons within each of Orange County’s four CalWORKs regional offices, who work with welfare-to-work case managers and college CalWORKs counselors. This program has resulted in a streamlined CalWORKs student verification process, with a 10 business day verification process, and the co-locating of a welfare-to-work case manager and CalWORKs eligibility worker on the Fullerton Community College campus for one half day each month.

Proposed Law:

This bill would require a human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs to designate an agency liaison for higher education who would be the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county, and shall provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency’s jurisdiction to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services. This bill would also encourage a county agency to consult with community colleges located within the county to best determine how the agency liaison can assist counselors and other professional staff members in meeting the needs of the student population. Lastly, this bill would specify that any disclosure or sharing of personal information be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.

Related Legislation:

AB 214 (Weber, Chapter 134, Statutes of 2017) required the California Student Aid Commission to notify Cal Grant recipients who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program, provides clarity to existing policies in order to simplify CalFresh administration for college students, and requires CDSS to maintain a list of programs that provide a student potential eligibility for a CalFresh exemption if certain requirements are met.

AB 1747 (Weber, Chapter 290, Statutes of 2016) provided the state with several new tools to draw down federal resources. The bill also improved coordination between anti-hunger efforts on college campuses and anti-hunger efforts in the surrounding communities.

AB 1930 (Skinner, Chapter 729, Statutes of 2014) created a workgroup under CDSS which sought to ensure students who actively participate in the education plans and meet all other eligibility requirements for CalFresh are adequately screened for exemptions from federal work requirements for SNAP benefits.

AB 832 (Weber, 2013) would have required all convenience stores and bookstores at UC, CSU and the CCC to accept the use of EBT cards. It was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Staff Comments: Staff notes that there is nothing in existing law that currently prohibits counties from establishing a community college liaison. This is further apparent with the program that has been in place in Orange County for the past 10 years. Though the Orange County program has been formally established, it is unknown what existing relationships other counties already have that are similar to the requirements set in this bill. Community College staff already interact with county social services and refer students for services, though having a liaison as a single point of contact may make referrals from college staff faster and smoother, thereby refining an existing practice.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Senator Wiener, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 2933

Subject: Public social services: county liaison for higher education

SUMMARY

This bill requires a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs to designate an agency liaison for higher education. Additionally, requires the liaison to be the single point of contact in the county agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county.

ABSTRACT

Existing law:

1. Establishes under federal law the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964 and establishes, in California statute, the CalFresh program to administer the provision of federal SNAP benefits to families and individuals meeting certain criteria, as specified. (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq., WIC 18900 et seq.)
2. Specifies eligibility requirements and exemptions for students under the CalFresh program. (7 CFR 273.5 et seq.)
3. Establishes the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Act, and defines the EBT system as the program designed to provide benefits to those eligible to receive public assistance benefits such as CalWORKs and CalFresh. (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq., WIC 10065 et seq.)
4. Establishes the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) under SNAP to allow eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly recipients to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants. (7 U.S.C. Section 2020, WIC 18919 et seq.)
5. Requires each public or private postsecondary educational institution that is located in a county that participates in the RMP to apply to become an approved food vendor for the RMP, if the institution operates any qualifying food facility on campus; annually provide all on-campus food vendors not operated by the institution with information regarding the RMP and the manner in which to apply; and, if an on-campus food vendor has been approved to participate in the RMP, annually inform students about the program using information provided by CDSS. (EDC 66025.93(a))
6. Establishes the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to provide cash aid and welfare-to-work (WT) services to eligible families. (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
7. Provides that TANF funds for WTW services in California are administered through the CalWORKs program. (WIC 11200 et seq.)
8. Establishes within the California Community Colleges (CCC) the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program to assist CalWORKs recipients prepare for employment. Further requires a community college to receive funds for curriculum development or redesign aimed at, among other things, linking CalWORKs courses to job placement through work experience and internships. (EDC 79200 et seq.)

This bill:

1. Requires a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs, to designate an agency liaison for higher education.
2. Requires the agency liaison for higher education to be the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county, and further requires the agency liaison provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency’s jurisdiction to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services.
3. Encourages impacted county agencies to consult with community colleges located within the county to best determine how the agency liaison can assist counselors and other professional staff members in meeting the needs pf the student population.
4. Requires any disclosure or sharing of personal information under this section shall be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.

FISCAL IMPACT

According to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on May 9, 2018, this bill may present ongoing state General Fund costs of about $2 million annually for county agencies to designate a liaison to work with community college staff to provide resources to community college students. (Estimate assumes each of the state's 58 county agencies designate 0.5 of an employee's time to serve as a liaison.) The state would need to reimburse these costs to county agencies, if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill's requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

Purpose of the bill:

According to the author, “there has been increasing attention on such issues as housing, food, mental health, and other social services as directly impacting student success. This bill would better align students with available, publicly funded services, and would strengthen the partnership between college counselors and counties by instructing counties to designate a liaison in their various departments for higher education counselors.”

CalFresh for Students

CalFresh is an anti-hunger program that is 100 percent federally funded and provides benefit recipients with ATM-like EBT cards which can be used to purchase qualifying food. Students may qualify for CalFresh if they meet federally established criteria, which requires that the individual must be:

1. between the ages of 18 and 49 and physically and mentally “fit” for employment (if an individual has a disability, they are not considered a student for purposes of CalFresh eligibility determination. Rather, individuals who are unable to work due to disability are exempt from student exclusion) and
2. enrolled at least half-time in regular curriculum at an “institution of higher education” in which the regular curriculum meets the standard requirements for graduation or certification in a particular field of study.

California Community College (CCC) CalWORKs Program

The CCCs CalWORKs program exists in 113 of the state’s community colleges, in addition to one adult education center. There are approximately 30,000 CalWORKs participants enrolled in community colleges throughout the state. CCC CalWORKs programs work with local county human service offices to provide case management and a myriad of other services to participants, including: academic, career, and personal counseling involving intensive case management; coordination of child care services; career exploration; coordination with off-campus community based organizations for emergency assistance; on-campus student services; and on and off campus subsidized work-study placements. Additionally, the CCC CalWORKs program provides services to English language learners and individuals seeking to complete high school equivalency programs.

Meeting Students’ Basic Needs

In January 2018, the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor released the Study of Student Basic Needs in order to identify and examine the barriers students face to meeting their basic needs while working to attain their postsecondary educational goals. The study found that 41.6 percent of CSU students reported food insecurity; and 10.9 percent of CSU students reported experiencing homelessness in the prior 12 months. The highest rates of food insecurity (65.9 percent) and homelessness (18 percent) were found among students who identified as Black/African-American and first-generation college attendees.

This study found that students who reported experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or both, also experienced physical and mental health consequences that were associated with lower academic achievement; these students reported higher rates of “inactive days” where poor physical or mental health prevented them from engaging in their usual activities, such as work, school, self-care, and leisure activities.

The survey found that basic needs supports on campuses were underutilized. While CalFresh and campus emergency food pantry utilization was higher among students who reported low and very low food security when compared to their food secure peers, only 10.1 percent of students who reported very low food security and 7.5 percent of students who reported low food security used CalFresh benefits. It was also found that 12.7 percent of students who reported very low food security and 9.8 percent of students who reported low food security utilized on campus food pantries.

As for CCCs, during the fall of 2016, the Los Angeles Community College District surveyed their students and found 62.7 percent of students surveyed were experiencing food insecurity. Furthermore, 55 percent of their surveyed students were experiencing some form of housing insecurity, while 18.6 percent had experienced homelessness in the past year. This study did not survey students’ use of basic needs supports.

In recognition of these needs, the Budget Act of 2017 provided $2.5 million to the University of California (UC), CSU, and CCC to support activities such as CalFresh enrollment, establishing on-campus food pantries and meal sharing programs.

Orange County CalWORKs/Welfare to Work Education Liaison Model

Ten years ago, Orange County’s Social Services Agency partnered with their local community colleges using a liaison model. The Orange County Social Service Agency, in particular their Family Self-Sufficiency & Adult Services Policy & Quality Assurance (PQA) Team, formed a close relationship with their local community colleges, realizing that they were both serving the same population of CalWORKs recipients. Over the years they have built out a model that best serves the needs of their community. At this time, it involves four designated Education Liaisons within each of Orange County’s four CalWORKs regional offices, who work with welfare to work case managers and college CalWORKs counselors. This program has resulted in a streamlined CalWORKs student verification process, with a 10 business day verification process, and the co-locating of a welfare to work case manager and CalWORKs eligibility worker on the Fullerton Community College campus for one half day each month. Through these efforts the county has also developed forms to facilitate communication between the Orange County Social Services Agency and their local community colleges.

According to the author’s office, this bill is modeled after Orange County’s program.

Related legislation:

AB 1894 (Weber, 2018) authorizes the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Chancellor of the CSU in order to allow a qualifying food facility located on a CSU campus to participate in the RMP, even if the CSU campus is located in a county that does not participate in the RMP. This bill is set to be heard in this Committee on June 26, 2018.

SB 1275 (Stern, 2018) would have established, under the administration of the California Student Aid Commission, a new grant award program for the purpose of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary educational institutions who are eligible for the Cal Grant B Program. SB 1275 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file.

AB 282 (Wiener, Chapter 355, Statutes of 2017) requires CDSS to communicate with counties regarding how to participate in the RMP, among other things.

AB 214 (Weber, Chapter 134, Statutes of 2017) requires the California Student Aid Commission to notify Cal Grant recipients who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program, provides clarity to existing policies in order to simplify CalFresh administration for college students, and requires CDSS to maintain a list of programs that provide a student potential eligibility for a CalFresh exemption if certain requirements are met.

AB 1747 (Weber, Chapter 290, Statutes of 2016) provides the state with several new tools to draw down federal resources. The bill also improved coordination between anti-hunger efforts on college campuses and anti-hunger efforts in the surrounding communities.

AB 1930 (Skinner, Chapter 729, Statutes of 2014) created a workgroup under CDSS which sought to ensure students who actively participate in the education plans and meet all other eligibility requirements for CalFresh are adequately screened for exemptions from federal work requirements for SNAP benefits.

AB 832 (Weber, 2013) would have required all convenience stores and bookstores at UC, CSU and the CCC to accept the use of EBT cards. This bill was held in Assembly Appropriations Committee.

COMMENTS

As highlighted by the Orange County Liaison Model, there is nothing within existing law prohibiting counties from establishing a community college liaison program if they should so choose. This bill requires counties to establish a liaison for higher education who will act as the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff, and also provide resource and referral information to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services.

This bill is currently unclear as to a specific plan for the role of these liaisons. The author’s office states that the bill is purposefully broad, so that counties may implement in a way that makes sense for each county. However, as written the bill seems to suggest two separate required roles for these liaisons: a direct contact role between the liaisons and students for the provision of resource and referral information; and their serving as a single point of contact for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff. Additionally, by not providing a county with the ability to opt out, this bill may force a model on a county that does not work for their community’s unique needs. Should this bill pass out of this committee, the author’s office may wish to clarify their intentions.

PRIOR VOTES

POSITIONS

Support:

The California Community Colleges Chancellors Office

The California Faculty Association

The California Federation of Teachers

The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

The National Association of Social Workers

Oppose:

None received

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: June 20, 2018

Subject:

NOTE: This bill has been referred to the Committees on Education and Human Services. A "do pass" motion should include referral to the Committee on Human Services.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs to designate an agency liaison for higher education, and requires the liaison to be the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Establishes the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964. (Title 7, United States Code, § 2011 et seq.)
2. Establishes the CalFresh program to administer the provision of federal SNAP benefits to families and individuals meeting specified criteria. Welfare and Institutions Code § 18900 et seq.)
3. Establishes the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Act to provide benefits to those eligible to receive public assistance benefits, as specified. (42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq. and WIC § 10065 et seq.)
4. Establishes the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to allow eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly recipients to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants. (7 U.S.C. § 2020, and WIC § 18919 et seq.)
5. Requires each public and private postsecondary education institution that is located in a county that participates in the RMP to apply to become an approved food vendor for participation in this program. (Education Code § 66025.93)
6. Establishes the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to provide aid and welfare-to-work services to eligible families. (42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.)
7. Provides that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for welfare-to-work services in California are administered through the CalWORKs program. (WIC § 11200 et seq.)
8. Establishes within the California Community Colleges the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program to assist CalWORKs recipients prepare for employment. Further requires a community college to receive funds for curriculum development or redesign aimed at, among other things, linking CalWORKs courses to job placement through work experience and internships. (EC § 79200 et seq.)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Requires a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral health services programs to designate an agency liaison for higher education.
   
2. Requires the agency liaison for higher education to be the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county.
   
3. Requires the agency liaison to provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency’s jurisdiction to students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services.
   
4. Encourages a county agency to consult with community colleges located within the county to best determine how the agency liaison can assist counselors and other professional staff members in meeting the needs of the student population.
   
5. Requires any disclosure or sharing of personal information to be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “California Community Colleges educate over 2.1 million students, many of whom struggle with economic challenges and/or other difficulties. Counselors have the ability to connect students with appropriate county-funded or county-administered services, but many counselors do not have the time, nor do they have the expertise to navigate county government for this purpose. Some California counties have voluntarily established an educational liaison to serve as a single point of contact for the student CalWORKs population. The CalWORKs model has proven successful but is limited to counselors serving a narrow population of students.”
   
2. Existing model. According to the Assembly Education Committee analysis of this bill, the inspiration for this bill stems from a similar practice in Orange County that utilizes an educational liaison to provide a single point of contact within the county for community college counselors serving CalWORKs students. Use of a liaison has been in practice in Orange County for ten years and was implemented because it was found that counties and community colleges were both serving the same population of CalWORKs recipients. It was later determined within the county that a more coherent structure was needed to provide for the needs of that population. Under the Orange County model, when a community college counselor has a question about regarding public benefits for which a student may be eligible, the counselor contacts one of four regional liaisons in order to receive timely assistance. Orange County staff has reported that the relationship between community college counselors and county staff has resulted in increased knowledge and insights into the student CalWORKs population and program, and has led to increased collaboration for other programs, such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal.
   
3. California Community College CalWORKs Program: According to the Assembly Education Committee analysis, the California Community Colleges CalWORKs program exists in 113 of the state’s community colleges, in addition to one adult education center. There are approximately 30,000 CalWORKs participants enrolled in community colleges throughout the state. Community college CalWORKs programs work with local county human services offices to provide case management and myriad services to participants, including: academic, career, and personal counseling involving intensive case management, coordination of child care services, career exploration, and coordination with off-campus community based organizations for emergency assistance, and on-campus student services; and on- and off- campus subsidized work-study placements. Additionally, English language learners and individuals seeking to complete high school equivalency programs may also access services through the California Community College CalWORKs program.
   
4. Fiscal impact. According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, this bill would impose ongoing state General Fund costs of about $2 million annually for county agencies to designate a liaison to work with community college staff to provide resources to community college students. (Estimate assumes each of the state's 58 county agencies designate 0.5 of an employee's time to serve as a liaison.) The state would need to reimburse these costs to county agencies, if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill's requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate.
   
5. Related legislation. AB 1894 (Weber, 2018) authorizes the Department of Social Services to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) in order to allow a qualifying food facility located on a CSU campus to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), even if the CSU campus is located in a county that does not participate in the RMP. AB 1894 passed this Committee on June 6, on a 6-0 vote, and is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Human Services Committee on June 26, 2018.

SUPPORT

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (sponsor)

California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office

California Faculty Association

California Federation of Teachers

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter

OPPOSITION

None received

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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 2933

Author:(Medina)

As Amended Ver:April 9, 2018

Majority vote

SUMMARY: Requires county agencies responsible for providing certain health and human services to designate an agency liaison for community colleges to serve as the single contact for relevant staff at community colleges within that county to provide resource and referral information for community college students and encourages agencies to consult with community colleges to determine how the liaison can assist counselors and faculty in meeting the needs of community college students.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes community college districts, governed by boards of elected trustees (Education Code Section 72000, et seq.).

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, ongoing state General Fund costs of about $2 million annually for county agencies to designate a liaison to work with community college staff to provide resources to community college students. (Estimate assumes each of the state's 58 county agencies designate 0.5 of an employee's time to serve as a liaison.) The state would need to reimburse these costs to county agencies, if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill's requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate.

COMMENTS: Purpose. According to the author, community college counselors primarily provide academic advising and career counseling to a diverse and often low-income student body. In their role, counselors hear from students dealing with various social and economic problems, such as homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health issues. Despite their desire to connect such students with appropriate county-funded and/or county-administered services, many counselors do not have the time or expertise to navigate county government for this purpose.

AB 2933, sponsored by the Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges (FACCC), simply requires county social service agencies to designate a liaison to serve as the point of contact for community college staff seeking to link needy students with county services for which they might be eligible. This approach should streamline the work of counselors, relieving them of having to navigate the entire bureaucratic structure of a county agency, and instead to call upon a single designated person deemed as the county agency's expert regarding college students.

A model exists to some extent for this bill in Orange County, which has established an educational liaison to serve as a single point of contact for the CalWORKs student population.

Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0003183

Date of Hearing: May 9, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2933

Author:(Medina) – As Amended Ver:April 9, 2018

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY: This bill requires county agencies responsible for providing certain health and human services to designate an agency liaison for community colleges to serve as the single contact for relevant staff at community colleges within that county to provide resource and referral information for community college students. It also encourages agencies to consult with community colleges to determine how the liaison can assist counselors and faculty in meeting the needs of community college students.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Ongoing state GF costs of about $2 million annually for county agencies to designate a liaison to work with community college staff to provide resources to community college students. (Estimate assumes each of the state’s 58 county agencies designate 0.5 of an employee’s time to serve as a liaison.) The state would need to reimburse these costs to county agencies, if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill’s requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. According to the author, community college counselors primarily provide academic advising and career counseling to a diverse and often low-income student body and frequently become aware of social and economic problems students face. Counselors may not have the time or expertise to connect students with county-level social services.

County agencies currently provide liaisons to community colleges for various programs they administer to eligible student populations, including CalWORKs and Cal Fresh.

1. Related Legislation. AB 1894 (Weber), of this session, allows Department of Social Services to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) to allow any qualifying food facility located on a CSU campus to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program, a county program that allows certain low-income individuals to use CalFresh benefits at university dining halls. The bill passed out of this committee on consent on May 2, 2018.

Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 24, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Blanca Rubio, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2933 (

Author:Medina) – As Amended Ver:April 9, 2018

SUBJECT: Public social services: county liaison for higher education

SUMMARY: Requires county agencies responsible for providing certain health and human services to designate an agency liaison for higher education and encourages agencies to consult with community colleges to determine how the liaison can assist counselors and faculty in meeting the needs of community college students.

Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires a county human services agency, or any other county agency responsible for social, health, or behavioral health services programs, to designate an agency liaison for higher education, and requires the liaison to:
   1. serve as the single point of contact in the agency for academic counselors and other relevant professional staff at community colleges located within the county; and
   2. provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency’s jurisdiction to students who have a need that may be met by those services.
2. Encourages a county agency, as specified, to consult with community colleges located within the county to best determine how the liaison can assist counselors and other staff members in meeting student needs.
3. Requires any personal information disclosed or shared as a result of the provisions of this bill be made in compliance with applicable state and federal confidentiality laws.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes under federal law the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1964 and establishes, in California statute, the CalFresh program to administer the provision of federal SNAP benefits to families and individuals meeting certain criteria, as specified. (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq., WIC 18900 et seq.)
2. Establishes the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Act, and defines the EBT system as the program designed to provide benefits to those eligible to receive public assistance benefits such as CalWORKs and CalFresh. (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq., WIC 10065 et seq.)
3. Specifies eligibility requirements and exemptions for students under the CalFresh program. (7 CFR 273.5 et seq.)
4. Establishes the Restaurant Meals Program under SNAP to allow eligible homeless, disabled, or elderly recipients to purchase hot, prepared food from participating restaurants. (7 U.S.C. 2020, WIC 18919 et seq.)
5. Specifies that an institution is not required to create, operate, or maintain an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system on behalf of on-campus food vendors; and, that an approved food vendor participating in the Restaurant Meals Program as specified, and a county in which the program is operated, shall meet the requirements of the Restaurant Meals Program. (EDC 66025.93)
6. Establishes under federal law the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to provide aid and welfare-to-work services to eligible families and, in California, provides that TANF funds for welfare-to-work services are administered through the CalWORKs program. (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq., WIC 11200 et seq.)
7. Establishes income, asset and real property limits used to determine eligibility for the program, including net income below the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP), based on family size and county of residence. (WIC 11150-11160, 11450 et seq.)
8. Requires all individuals over 16 years of age, unless they are otherwise exempt, to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility for CalWORKs. (WIC 11320.3, 11322.6)
9. States that there is, in the California Community Colleges, the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program, the intent of which is to assist CalWORKs recipients prepare for employment. Further requires, as specified and to the extent that funding is appropriated in the annual Budget Act, a community college to receive funds for curriculum development or redesign aimed at, among other things, linking CalWORKs courses to job placement through work experience and internships. (EDC 79200 -79203)
10. Requires that, as specified and to the extent funding is provided in the annual Budget Act, a community college receive funds in addition to those allotted for curriculum development and redesign to provide special services for CalWORKs recipients, including, but not limited to job placement, child care and workstudy, coordination with county welfare offices, postemployment skills training and related skills training. (EDC 79204- 79206)
11. Requires, as a condition for receiving funds for special services, community college districts and colleges to submit a report, as specified, to the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges that includes data on the use of the moneys and other factors, including, but not limited to, the number of workstudy hours provided, the number of students receiving case management, and the hourly salaries and types of jobs in which CalWORKs recipients were placed. (EDC 79207)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.

COMMENTS:

CalWORKs: Created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant provides monthly income assistance and services aimed at increasing employment recipients in order to move children out of poverty. California’s TANF program, known as CalWORKs, receives federal funds and seeks to help families meet basic needs. The maximum monthly grant for a family of three living in a high cost county is $714, or $7.93 per family member, per day. A family of three receiving CalWORKs therefore has an annual household income of $8,568, which is 41% of the poverty level. Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2018 specify that the poverty threshold for a family of three is $20,780 per year. According to the Department of Social Services (DSS), during 2016-17, there were 452,770 CalWORKs cases.

California Community College CalWORKs Program: Created in 1997, the California Community Colleges CalWORKs program exists in all 113 of the state’s community colleges, in addition to one adult education center. There are approximately 30,000 CalWORKs participants enrolled in community colleges throughout the state.

Community college CalWORKs programs work with local county human services offices to provide case management and myriad services to participants, including: academic, career, and personal counseling involving intensive case management, coordination of child care services, career exploration, and coordination with off-campus community based organizations for emergency assistance, and on-campus student services; and on- and off- campus subsidized work study placements. Additionally, English language learners and individuals seeking to complete high school equivalency programs may also access services through the California Community College CalWORKs program.

Homelessness and food insecurity among college students: College students across the nation face myriad challenges to their academic success and in California, some of the largest issues faced by college students are homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health issues that result from the stress induced by lack of housing and food.

In January 2018, the CSU Office of the Chancellor released the Study of Student Basic Needs in order to identify and examine the barriers students face to meeting their basic needs while working to attain their postsecondary educational goals. The study found that overall, 10.9% of CSU students reported being homeless and 41.6% of students reported food insecurity; of those, 20% experienced low food security and 21.6% experienced very low food security. The highest rates of food insecurity (65.9%) and homelessness (18%) were found among students who identified as Black/African-American and first-generation college attendees. It was also found that students who reported experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or both, also experienced physical and mental health consequences that were associated with lower academic achievement; these students reported higher rates of “inactive days” where poor physical or mental health prevented them from engaging in their usual activities, such as work, school, self-care, and leisure activities. The survey found that basic needs supports on campuses were underutilized; while CalFresh and campus emergency food pantry utilization was higher among students who reported low and very low food security when compared to their food secure peers, only 10.1% of students who reported very low food security and 7.5% of students who reported low food security used CalFresh benefits. It was also found that only 12.7% of students who reported very low food security and 9.8% of students who reported low food security utilized on campus food pantries.

Many students facing food insecurity, homelessness or both, had lower GPAs and higher academic concerns than their peers who did not face these issues. In interviews described in the CSU study, students reported skipping class to manage issues of housing instability, and that students who were homeless had lower GPAs than their housed peers. Students who were homeless or food insecure self-reported stress, depression, and problems with emotions; these students also reported high levels of personal concerns with anxiety, fear, irritability, and depression, and reported having more physical health issues, physical illness and injury than their housing secure peers.

Additional services available to eligible college students: To combat high rates of homelessness and food insecurity among college students, California and college campuses offer several types of assistance to help provide for the basic needs of college students and are engaged in efforts to facilitate food security and provide housing to these individuals, including:

Food insecurity: CalFresh benefits are funded entirely by the federal government through SNAP and the United States Department of Agriculture sets specific eligibility requirements for SNAP programs across the United States, including a gross and net income test, work requirements, and other documentation requirements. CalFresh is administered locally by county human services agencies, and the federal, state, and county governments share in the cost of administration of the program. Students must meet certain eligibility criteria in order to qualify for CalFresh benefits, as well as meet the federal definition of “student,” which includes those individuals who are:

1. between the ages of 18 and 49 and are physically and mentally “fit” for employment (if an individual has a disability, they are not considered a student for purposes of CalFresh eligibility determination [individuals who are unable to work due to disability are exempt from student exclusion]); and
2. enrolled at least half-time in regular curriculum at an “institution of higher education” in which the regular curriculum meets the standard requirements for graduation or certification in a particular field of study.

In 2017, AB 214 (Weber) Chapter 134, Statutes of 2017, required the California Student Aid Commission to notify Cal Grant recipients about their potential eligibility for CalFresh benefits. The bill also made changes to definitions of “on campus food vendor” and “food facility” for purposes of implementing the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) on college campuses. The RMP enables eligible elderly, disabled, and homeless CalFresh recipients to purchase certain hot, prepared foods that would otherwise be prohibited for purchase under federal SNAP rules. The bill also required DSS to maintain and issue instructions for verifying an exemption to the student eligibility rules for receiving CalFresh benefits. On April 2, 2018, DSS released All County Letter (ACL) 18-27 detailing implementation instructions for AB 214.

Homelessness: To combat the increased rates of homelessness among college students, the UC, CSU, and CCC have engaged in efforts to reduce these rates. At San Diego State University, the Economic Crisis Response Team, a collective of different campus resources, work together to refer students to appropriate services based on an online form filled out by students detailing their situation and supports they may need. The University of California San Diego Office of Food and Housing Resources serves a similar purpose for UCSD students.

In March 2017, the California State Assembly convened the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. The role of the select committee is to conduct a thorough review of the California Master Plan for Higher Education of 1960, which was established under Governor Pat Brown and sought to provide access to affordable, quality public higher education for individuals regardless of economic status. The select committee, chaired by Assemblymember Marc Berman has stated intent to hold public hearings during the 2017-18 Legislative Session throughout the state in order to examine the issues faced by community college students across the state. The most recent hearing occurred on March 1, 2018 in Fresno, where the issue of homelessness among college students was widely discussed.

Orange County Educational liaison: According to information provided by the author’s office, the inspiration for this bill stems from a similar practice in Orange County that utilizes an educational liaison to provide a single point of contact within the county for community college counselors serving CalWORKs students. Use of a liaison has been in practice in Orange County for ten years and was implemented because it was found that counties and community colleges were both serving the same population of CalWORKs recipients. It was later determined within the county that a more coherent structure was needed to provide for the needs of that population. Under the Orange County model, when a community college counselor has a question about regarding public benefits for which a student may be eligible, the counselor contacts one of four regional liaisons in order to receive timely assistance. Orange County staff has reported that the relationship between community college counselors and county staff has resulted in increased knowledge and insights into the student CalWORKs population and program, and has led to increased collaboration for other programs, such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal.

Need for this bill: According to the author, “As a former faculty member and trustee in the community colleges, I understand the complex needs of our diverse student body. There has been increasing attention on such issues as housing, food, mental health, and other social services as directly impacting student success. We know that in different parts of the state, the community colleges have been working to improve coordination with counties on linking students to publicly funded services. Nonetheless, we don’t have a system in place where counties have designated a point of contact for counselors in higher education to facilitate reference and referral to students who may be eligible for public services.

[This bill] would better align students with available, publicly funded services and would strengthen the partnership between college counselors and counties by instructing counties to designate a liaison in their various departments for higher education counselors. [This bill] would authorize the educational liaison, who would serve as a point of contact in the counties for higher education counselors, to recommend appropriate support services for students.”

PRIOR LEGISLATION:

AB 1894 (Weber), 2018, allows DSS to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) in order to allow any qualifying food facility located on a CSU campus to participate in the RMP, even if the county is located in a county that does not participate in the RMP. It is currently awaiting hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 214 (Weber), Chapter 134, Statutes of 2017, required the California Student Aid Commission to notify Cal Grant recipients who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program, provided clarity to existing policies in order to simplify CalFresh administration for college students, and required DSS to maintain a list of programs that provide a student potential eligibility for a CalFresh exemption if certain requirements are met.

AB 1747 (Weber), Chapter 290, Statutes of 2016, addressed growing hunger among low-income college students in California by providing the state with several new tools to draw down federal resources. The bill also improved coordination between anti-hunger efforts on college campuses and anti-hunger efforts in the surrounding communities.

SECOND COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE. This bill was previously heard in the Assembly Higher Education Committee on April 17, 2018 and was approved on a 13-0 vote.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

National Association of Social Workers, CA Chapter

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Kelsy Castillo / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089

Date of Hearing: April 17, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2933 (

Author:Medina) – As Amended Ver:April 9, 2018

[Note: This bill is doubled referred to the Assembly Human Services Committee and will be heard by that Committee as it relates to issues under its jurisdiction.]

SUBJECT: Public social services: county liaison for higher education

SUMMARY: Requires county social service agencies to establish liaisons for assisting community college students. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires a county welfare agency, or any other county agency responsible for social services, health services, or behavioral services to designate an agency liaison for higher education.
2. Requires the agency liaison per (1) to be the single point of contact within the agency for academic counselors and other relevant staff at community colleges within the county and to provide resource and referral information regarding relevant programs under the agency's jurisdiction to community college students who have expressed a need that might be met by those services.
3. Encourages county agencies subject to the above to consult with community colleges within the county to best determine how the liaison can assist college staff in meeting students' needs.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes community college districts, governed by boards of elected trustees. (Education Code Section 72000, et seq.)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: Purpose. According to the author, community college counselors primarily provide academic advising and career counseling to a diverse and often low-income student body. In their role, counselors hear from students dealing with various social and economic problems, such as homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health issues. Despite their desire to connect such students with appropriate county-funded and/or county-administered services, many counselors do not have the time or expertise to navigate county government for this purpose.

AB 2933, sponsored by the Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges (FACCC), simply requires county social service agencies to designate a liaison to serve as the point of contact for community college staff seeking to link needy students with county services for which they might be eligible. This approach should streamline the work of counselors, relieving them of having to navigate the entire bureaucratic structure of a county agency, and instead to call upon a single designated person deemed as the county agency's expert regarding college students.

A model exists to some extent for this bill in Orange County, which has established an educational liaison to serve as a single point of contact for the CalWORKs student population.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

FACCC (sponsor)

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960