CA AB1402

Establishes the Fresh Start Grants Program beginning January 1, 2027, requiring county welfare departments to determine CalFresh recipients' eligibility for California Earned Income Tax Credit, Young Child Tax Credit, and foster youth tax credit, then distribute those credit amounts as grants instead of waiting for tax refunds

Creates the Fresh Start Grants Fund in the State Treasury, continuously appropriated, with the Franchise Tax Board annually estimating credit amounts and transferring funds from the Tax Relief and Refund Account to fund the grants

Reduces tax credits claimed on tax returns by any amount already received as a Fresh Start Grant to prevent duplication of benefits

Expands eligibility evaluation to recipients of other safety net programs including CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, General Assistance, WIC, In-Home Supportive Services, and SSI/SSP

Requires data safeguards protecting recipients including undocumented individuals, California Privacy Protection Agency compliance monitoring, and an independent study assessing poverty reduction outcomes with reports due by June 30, 2030