CA AB1840

State agencies must give hiring preference for internships and student assistant positions to qualified applicants who are dependent children in foster care, homeless youth, or formerly incarcerated youth, up to 26 years of age.

Homeless youth are defined as applicants up to 26 years old verified by a homeless services provider, federal TRIO/GEAR UP program director, or financial aid administrator as meeting the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act definition.

Formerly incarcerated youth are defined as individuals released from incarceration or custody in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice, or county jail before reaching 21 years of age.

Applications must allow applicants to identify they are eligible for preference but cannot require disclosure of which specific category qualifies them.

Preference means priority placement over similarly qualified applicants.