Juveniles: Division of Juvenile Justice: closure.

Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez's guaranteed income legislation establishes new parameters for how cash assistance payments interact with California's means-tested benefit programs. The measure prevents guaranteed income payments from affecting eligibility or benefit levels for programs including CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other state assistance initiatives.

The bill defines guaranteed income as unconditional, recurring cash payments intended to support basic needs, encompassing both state pilot program distributions and locally funded efforts. Under the provisions, these payments cannot be counted as income or resources when determining eligibility for means-tested benefits. Conversely, receiving benefits from means-tested programs does not impact eligibility for guaranteed income payments.

Counties face new responsibilities for implementing these eligibility determination changes without additional state funding. While the measure creates unfunded mandates for local agencies, it includes provisions for potential state reimbursement if the Commission on State Mandates determines costs were imposed by the state. The provisions apply only to the extent they do not conflict with federal law.