CalWORKs.

Assembly Member Patel's CalWORKs reform legislation modifies how parents maintain eligibility for assistance when their children enter out-of-home care, while streamlining program requirements for affected families. The bill allows the Department of Social Services to extend the period during which parents remain eligible for CalWORKs benefits beyond the current six-month limit after a child's removal from the home, provided certain conditions are met.

The legislation introduces key changes to welfare-to-work requirements for parents working toward family reunification. Counties must now incorporate welfare-to-work activities directly into child welfare reunification plans or develop joint plans that serve both purposes, eliminating the need for separate documentation. This integrated approach combines employment preparation services with reunification support services defined under state law.

For families affected by child removal, the bill ends any existing sanctions related to child immunization verification requirements once a child enters out-of-home care. While counties face new administrative responsibilities under these changes, the legislation specifies that implementation must occur within existing funding streams, with potential reimbursement available if the Commission on State Mandates determines the changes create state-mandated local costs.