CA SB609

Requires the State Department of Social Services, upon legislative appropriation and to the extent permitted by federal law, to include adult education and career technical education programs in the list of programs qualifying students for CalFresh eligibility exemptions.

Mandates the department maintain and regularly update a list of educational programs that meet federal employment and training exemption standards under Section 273.5(b)(11) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Requires the department to consult with community college chancellors, California State University, University of California, workforce boards, county agencies, and student advocates to identify and verify exemptions to CalFresh student eligibility rules.

Directs the department to issue instructions to county human services agencies for verifying student exemptions and to create a standardized workstudy verification form by January 1, 2021, for use by higher education institutions.

Clarifies that the bill does not require counties to provide specific support services, restrict federal funding use, or require colleges to provide CalFresh eligibility information beyond workstudy verification forms.