Mia Bonta

Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, headed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. Existing law further establishes, within the agency, a number of departments and other entities, including the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, these departments oversee the provision of various services to children and a number of programs serving children including, among others, the provision of family preservation services.

This bill would establish, within the California Health and Human Services Agency, the California Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to staff and administer the council. The bill would require the council to be cochaired by the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency and the Director of Social Services, or their designees, and would specify the membership of the council, which would include 18 members, as specified. The bill would establish the duties of the council, including, among other things, the duty to evaluate the impacts of various types of policy proposals that would affect children and to submit an analysis of budget provisions expected to affect child poverty and child well-being within 10 days of the release of both the Governor's annual budget proposal and the May Revision. The bill would also require the council to submit various reports to the Legislature, including, among others, an initial report by July 1, 2027.