CWDA is sponsoring or cosponsoring several bills this legislative session. We will update this page as bills are introduced, and add fact sheets and sample support letters in this section.

PLEASE NOTE: Starting in 2019, committees are asking that letters be submitted via the online Advocates portal, rather than via email or fax. The portal can be found at: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/  and you will need to create a profile before submitting letters on behalf of your organization.

Governor’s Letters should be submitted to: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov

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Bills Still Active

AB 1301 (Cooley) – Modernizing PAARP

Status: SIGNED by Governor Newsom

Provides counties with greater ability to support adoptions of foster children by returning local control over Realignment dollars currently administered by the state on counties’ behalf to fund the Private Agency Adoption Reimbursement Program (PAARP).

AB 1301 Sample Letter to Governor Newsom

AB 1377 (Wicks) – Automatic Student Eligibility for CalFresh

Status: SIGNED by Governor Newsom

Creates a system of automatic eligibility for CalFresh benefits for students enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program.

Cosponsored with the California Association of Food Banks

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Inactive Bills

SB 440 (Pan) – Cognitive Impairment Task Force

Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee (5/16)

Creates a task force with broad representation from service providers and individuals who have cognitive impairments and their family members and caregivers, to examine the current system of services for these individuals and recommend improvements.

Cosponsored with the Elder Justice Coalition, the California Commission on Aging, and the California Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators

AB 229 (Nazarian) – Translating IHSS Provider Materials

Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee (5/16)

Will require the California Department of Social Services to translate written materials created for use by IHSS providers into the same threshold languages that are used for translation of materials for IHSS recipients.

Cosponsored with the California Association of Public Authorities

AB 531 (Friedman) – Improving Housing Services for Non-Minor Dependents

Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee (8/30)

Creates a Housing Navigator program for non-minor dependents receiving funding and services through the child welfare system, and makes related changes to state law to improve the availability of host families and temporary housing options for these youth.

Cosponsored with the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Children Now, the Children’s Law Center, First Place for Youth, and GRACE

AB 980 (Kalra) – DMV Address Protection

Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee (5/16)

Will require the California Department of Motor Vehicles to add Adult Protective Services social workers and employees of the Public Guardian, Public Conservator and Public Administrator offices, to the list of workers with heightened confidentiality protection.

Cosponsored with the California Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators

AB 1005 (Arambula) – Family Urgent Response System

Status: Introduced; Inactive 

Creates a statewide hotline and response system to help stabilize foster families and reduce placement disruption.

Cosponsored with Children Now and the County Behavioral Health

AB 1436 (Stone) – CalWORKs Earned Income Disregard

Status: Two-year bill

Updates the Recipient earned income disregard in the CalWORKs program to reflect increases in the minimum wage.

Cosponsored with the Western Center on Law and Poverty

Directors Association of California