CWES Update 2024-06
Implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 768: WTW Participants Attending Publicly Funded and Nonprofit Postsecondary Educational Institutions
| Date | References | Clerical | Implementation |
| 08/19/24 | ACL 24-32 | N/A | Effective Immediately |
Background
SB 768 makes changes to the program established by SB 1232, which impacts California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants who are enrolled in publicly funded and nonprofit postsecondary education by providing an advance standard payment to students to help pay for books and supplies.
Changes
The program established by SB 1232 and impacted by the passage of SB 768 is now known as the Student Training and Education Program (STEP).
SB 768 affects previously released guidance for WTW participants enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions. The changes that SB 768 makes are as follows:
- STEP participants must not be required to participate in WTW activities during school breaks to satisfy the educational hours portion of their WTW hourly participation requirements. However, they should be encouraged to participate voluntarily to maximize the benefit of CalWORKs programs and associated supportive services.
- Hourly participation rates can be calculated based on instructional hours or academic units.
- Defines an "instructional hour" as class time of 50 minutes.
- A summer session must be deemed a quarter term.
- STEP participants must not be required to participate in Orientation and Appraisal more than once unless they have a break in receipt of CalWORKs cash aid or supportive services for more than a year.
The CWES Handbook section titled "Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Plan SB 1232 Provisions" has been renamed to "Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Plan Student and Education Program (STEP) Provisions".
With this Update, the CWES Handbook section Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Plan Student Training and Education Program (STEP) Provisions has been revised.
Department of Employment & Benefits Services
Contact Person: Michelle Rojas, SSA BPIS, (408) 755-7540