CalFresh: student eligibility.

Student consent standard is raised throughout the bill from 'meaningful and informed consent' to 'meaningful and informed separate and distinct consent,' requiring students to give a standalone, unbundled consent specifically for CalFresh data sharing rather than having it embedded in a broader agreement.

The definition of 'contact information' in both Education Code sections (69408.5 and 69432.93) is narrowed from an open-ended list ('include, but is not limited to') that included physical address, to a closed list ('be limited to') that removes physical address entirely. Only legal name, email address, ZIP Code or county of residence, and telephone number may now be shared.

The department's authority to share student data under Section 18901.13(b) is narrowed from all county human services agencies and all three systemwide offices (CCC, CSU, UC) to only 'the appropriate county human services agency' and 'the appropriate public postsecondary education systemwide office of the campus in which the student is enrolled,' limiting data flow to directly relevant entities.

The stated purpose of the data-sharing agreement in Section 18901.13(a) is broadened from specifically 'providing direct outreach to students about the CalFresh program' to the broader purpose described in subdivision (b), which covers all on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources under Sections 66023.4 and 66023.5 of the Education Code.

Senator Richardson is added as a coauthor of the bill alongside Assembly Member Tangipa.

The purpose of student data sharing was expanded from solely 'CalFresh direct outreach' to 'identifying, supporting, and linking students to on- and off-campus basic needs services and resources pursuant to Sections 66023.4 and 66023.5 of the Education Code, including conducting direct outreach about the CalFresh program.' This means shared data can now support a broader range of student assistance programs, not just food benefits.

Data-sharing recipients were narrowed. Previously, data could be shared with 'county human services agencies and public postsecondary education institutions' broadly. Now it is limited to 'the appropriate county human services agency and the appropriate public postsecondary education systemwide office of the campus in which the student is enrolled,' meaning only the specific relevant entities for that student's campus can receive the data.

The consent standard was raised from 'permission' to 'meaningful and informed consent' throughout the bill. Students must now give meaningful and informed consent before their contact information is shared with the State Department of Social Services or any other entity.

A new subdivision (d) was added to Section 18901.12 stating that systemwide offices shall not be required to resubmit lists of campus-based programs if those programs have already been approved as local educational programs that increase employability. This is an administrative simplification to reduce burden on the university systems.

A new provision (Section 18901.13(d)(2)) was added stating that data shared with a student's meaningful and informed consent shall not be shared with any other entity or used for any purpose other than identifying, supporting, and linking students to basic needs services. This creates an explicit prohibition on secondary use of the data.

A new definition of 'public postsecondary education systemwide office' was added, meaning the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, or the office of the President of the University of California.

The definition of 'contact information' was expanded to include 'ZIP Code or county of residence' in addition to legal name, email address, physical address, and telephone number.

The document was reformatted from the official enrolled bill layout (with Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and Governor's receipt blocks) to a web page layout including navigation menus, bill tracking metadata, and version history. No changes were made to the actual statutory language.

The automatic approval of campus-based programs at public institutions of higher education as state-approved local educational programs that increase employability now has an explicit commencement date of on or before July 1, 2026, rather than taking effect immediately upon enactment.

The commission's obligation to amend its Grant Delivery System to identify potentially CalFresh-eligible students and enable student opt-in is now triggered by entering into a data-sharing agreement rather than a fixed deadline of January 1, 2027.

A new provision allows a campus-based program that is rejected by the department under the list-submission process to submit a certification application for approval, expanding the path to eligibility beyond programs simply not included on the submitted list.

A new definition of 'contact information' is added to both Education Code sections (69408.5 and 69432.93), specifying it includes legal name, email address, physical address, and telephone number.

CalFresh direct outreach obligations are significantly strengthened: counties must now contact opted-in students (changed from 'may'), each individual campus of the California Community Colleges and California State University must contact students (previously only the system-level chancellors' offices were referenced), while UC campuses remain on a request-only basis. A new condition requires that data has actually been shared by the department before outreach occurs.

A new privacy compliance provision (Section 18901.13(d)) requires that all data sharing under the section comply with applicable federal and state privacy laws, specifically naming the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and California Civil Code Section 1798.24.

The purpose of student outreach is broadened from 'determining their eligibility for CalFresh and receiving assistance in applying' to 'informing students about the CalFresh program and services available on and off campus to assist the student in applying for the food benefits.'

The data-sharing structure is reorganized: the department now has an explicit authority to share student information with county human services agencies and the chancellors' offices for direct outreach purposes, rather than the previous structure where the commission shared directly with the department and a separate opt-in mechanism applied.

Assembly Member Tangipa is added as a coauthor of the bill.

Added a requirement that the Student Aid Commission provide the State Department of Social Services with student information who opted in, pursuant to a data-sharing agreement (new subdivisions in both Section 69408.5 and 69432.93).

Added a new process requiring the California Community Colleges Chancellor's office and CSU Chancellor's office to submit lists of their campus-based programs of study to the department for approval, with UC requested to do the same (new Section 18901.12(b)).

Added a requirement for the department and Student Aid Commission to develop two data-sharing agreements: one for the commission to share student information with SSDSS, and another allowing county human services agencies and public postsecondary institutions to opt in to receive that information (new Section 18901.13(a)).

Added a certification application process allowing individual campus-based programs not on the submitted lists to apply directly to the department for approval (new Section 18901.12(c)).

Added an annual reporting requirement from September 1, 2026 through 2030, requiring the department to report to four legislative committees on approved programs, pending applications, and denied applications, and to post the report on its website (new Section 18901.12(d)).

Expanded CalFresh outreach from being solely the department's responsibility to also authorizing counties, California Community Colleges, and CSU (and requesting UC) to contact opted-in students if they have entered into a data-sharing agreement (Section 18901.13(b)).

Changed language from identifying students through 'Cal Grant applications' to identifying them 'through the commission's Grant Delivery System,' broadening the identification mechanism beyond just Cal Grant applicants.

Corrected 'local education program' to 'local educational program' in multiple locations for consistency with statutory terminology.

The amendment to Section 10823.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (relating to CalSAWS development goals and biannual legislative reporting) is entirely removed from the bill, along with its reference in the act title and digest.

The state-mandated local program designation changes from 'no' to 'yes,' meaning the bill now imposes costs on local agencies that must be reimbursed under the state mandates process.

In both new Education Code sections (69408.5 and 69432.93), the requirement changes from amending the 'Cal Grant application' to amending the commission's 'Grant Delivery System,' broadening the scope of the system that must identify potentially CalFresh-eligible students.

The fiscal committee vote changes from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal committee review, likely due to the removal of the CalSAWS provision or other cost implications.

The digest adds a new sentence noting that existing law requires the Student Aid Commission to prescribe the use of standardized student financial aid applications for the Cal Grant Program among other programs, providing additional context for the Grant Delivery System reference.

The bill's scope expanded from a single technical amendment to Section 10823.3 (CalSAWS) to also include new provisions in the Education Code and Welfare and Institutions Code addressing CalFresh student eligibility and outreach.

Repealed the existing certification and approval process under Section 18901.12 that required campus-based programs to apply, submit documentation, and receive departmental approval before qualifying students for the CalFresh student exemption.

Added Sections 69408.5 and 69432.93 to the Education Code requiring the Student Aid Commission to amend the Cal Grant application by January 1, 2027, to identify students potentially eligible for CalFresh and allow them to opt in to have their contact information shared with the Department of Social Services.

Added Section 18901.13 requiring the Department of Social Services to contact opted-in students starting with the 2027-28 academic year for purposes of determining CalFresh eligibility and assisting with applications.

Added new Section 18901.12 providing that any campus-based program of study at a public institution of higher education is automatically considered a state-approved local education program that increases employability and qualifies for the CalFresh student exemption, to the extent permitted by federal law.

Added a state mandate reimbursement provision (Section 6) acknowledging that the bill may impose costs on local agencies, with fiscal committee vote changed from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changed from 'no' to 'yes'.