CA SB 242

Title: California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program.
Author: Nancy Skinner

Summary
SB 242, as amended, Skinner. California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program. Existing law establishes the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program to provide a trust fund account to an eligible child, defined to include minor California residents who are specified dependents or wards under the jurisdiction of juvenile court in foster care with reunification services terminated by court order, or who have a parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian who died due to COVID-19 during the federally declared COVID-19 public health emergency and meet the specified family household income limit. Under the program, all assets of the fund and moneys allocated to individual HOPE trust accounts shall be considered to be owned by the state until an eligible youth withdraws or transfers money from their HOPE trust account.Existing law establishes various means-tested public social services programs administered by counties to provide eligible recipients with certain benefits, including, but not limited to, cash assistance under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, nutrition assistance under the CalFresh program, and health care services under the Medi-Cal program.This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, prohibit funds deposited and investment returns accrued in a HOPE trust fund account from being considered as income or assets when determining eligibility and benefit amount for any means-tested program until an eligible youth withdraws or transfers the funds from the HOPE trust fund account, as specified. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2024, or on the date that the State Department of Social Services notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement these provisions or no automation is necessary, whichever date is later. To the extent this bill would expand county 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.

Status
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.

Bill Documents
CA SB 242 - 05/18/23 - Amended Senate
05/18/23 - CA SB 242 (05/18/23 - Amended Senate)