As we approach the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Suspense File hearing, taking place on Thursday, May 19th upon adjournment of session, EDGE is working hard to raise awareness and uplift critical measures pending before the Appropriations committees from both houses – urging our State leaders to make investments that seek to empower underserved students, adult learners, opportunity youth, and investments that bolster industry and workforce needs. Below are several key priority bills for EDGE that are pending in the Assembly and Senate Suspense Files. To ensure our voices are heard, we urge you to email and call the Assembly & Senate Appropriations Chairs to pass these important measures off the suspense file! Even if you only support one bill from the list below, a couple, or all, your voice is crucial as the suspense hearing approaches!
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE BILLS PENDING ON SUSPENSE FILE
AB 1705 (Irwin) Equitable Placement and Completion at Community Colleges would remove barriers to certificate and degree completion by ending lengthy remedial sequences and placing students directly into transfer-level English and math coursework that is appropriate to their pathway, while also coupling these courses with co-requisite supports, as needed, to enable student success. This is a critical lever in meeting the education and workforce goals of the state. (Factsheet)
AB 1746 (Medina/McCarty) Cal Grant Reform would address long-standing structural inequities within the student financial aid Cal Grant program by removing barriers and expanding access to underserved students and adult learners. Modernizing the financial aid system will help to rebuild the state’s workforce pipeline and fuel California’s economic recovery. (Factsheet)
AB 1816 (Bryan) Reentry Housing and Workforce Development Program would create a competitive Reentry Housing & Workforce Development Grant Program to fund evidence-based housing, support services, and workforce development programs for people who were formerly incarcerated in state prisons and who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. (Factsheet)
AB 1965 (Wicks) CA Antihunger Response and Employment Training Act of 2022 (CARET) would establish the CARET program to provide state-funded benefits to individuals deemed ineligible for CalFresh as a result of a federal time limit. A federal time limit prohibits individuals between ages 18 and 49 years old who have no dependents and do not have a disability from receiving benefits for more than three months in a three-year time period, if they do not meet specific work requirements. This bill addresses food insecurity for individuals who would lose CalFresh eligibility due to federal rules and helps ensure they are supported as they continue to experience socio-economic and employment barriers. (Factsheet)
AB 2617 (Holden) Dual Enrollment would strengthen and expand dual enrollment programs by offering structured, well-sequenced pathways that count toward certificate and degree requirements by awarding students’ dual credit for college courses and credit toward high school graduation requirements, coupled with support services. (Factsheet)
AB 2670 (McCarty) CA Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises Program (RISE) would create the RISE Program intended to support employment social enterprises to provide targeted, specialized employment and workforce training, and connect them with local public partners, training providers, and private sector employers to accelerate economic mobility for individuals that experience employment barriers. (Factsheet)
AB 2847 (E. Garcia) Excluded Workers Pilot Program would provide critical unemployment insurance benefits to excluded immigrant workers in California who could not access these benefits due to immigration status. The proposal would provide undocumented immigrants experiencing unemployment with $300 per week for up to 20 weeks. (Factsheet)
SB 885 (Laird) NextUp Foster Youth Program would expand opportunities for foster youth by removing the 20 community college district limit, allowing the Community College Chancellor’s Office to enter into additional agreements with community college districts across the state and serve more opportunity youth. (Factsheet)
Have your voice heard and urge our legislators to pass these bills on May 19th! A sample email and phone script can be found here.
And tune in on Thursday, May 19th to watch live whether bills pending on the suspense file pass out of committee! Both hearings will start upon adjournment of session – session starts at 9am.
To view the Assembly Appropriations Suspense Hearing, click here.
To view the Senate Appropriations Suspense Hearing, click here.
For any questions, contact Anna Alvarado, Policy Director, at aalvarado@caedge.org.