CA AB818

Establishes that a high school diploma or equivalent is presumed to meaningfully increase employment likelihood for CalWORKs recipients seeking extensions of the 24-month welfare-to-work requirement.

Adds a new circumstance allowing recipients who obtained their high school diploma while participating in welfare-to-work activities to request an extension for completing additional educational programs or activities that would increase employment likelihood.

Requires counties to grant extensions to recipients presenting evidence supporting the specified circumstances unless the county determines the evidence does not support the claimed circumstance.

Shifts the burden of proof to counties to establish that an extension was not justified at any hearing disputing a denial, unless the county demonstrates unavailability due to the 20-percent limitation on extensions.

Allows counties to proactively grant extensions based on information already available, including welfare-to-work plans and participation records, subject to existing limitations.