11322.85. (Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 11, Sec. 48.)

(a) Unless otherwise exempt, an applicant or recipient shall participate in welfare-to-work activities.

(1) For 24 cumulative months during a recipient’s lifetime, these activities may include the activities listed in Section 11322.6 that are consistent with the assessment performed in accordance with Section 11325.4 and that are included in the individual’s welfare-to-work plan, as described in Section 11325.21, to meet the hours required in Section 11322.8. These 24 months need not be consecutive.

(2) Any month in which the recipient meets the requirements of Section 11322.8, through participation in an activity or activities described in paragraph (3), shall not count as a month of activities for purposes of the 24-month time limit described in paragraph (1).

(3) After a total of 24 months of participation in welfare-to-work activities pursuant to paragraph (1), an aided adult shall participate in one or more of the following welfare-to-work activities, in accordance with Section 607(c) and (d) of Title 42 of the United States Code as of the operative date of this section, that are consistent with the assessment performed in accordance with Section 11325.4, and included in the individual’s welfare-to-work plan, described in Section 11325.21:

(A) Unsubsidized employment.

(B) Subsidized private sector employment.

(C) Subsidized public sector employment.

(D) Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.

(E) On-the-job training.

(F) Job search and job readiness assistance.

(G) Community service programs.

(H) Vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual).

(I) Job skills training directly related to employment.

(J) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.

(K) Satisfactory attendance at a secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.

(L) The provision of childcare services to an individual who is participating in a community service program.

(b) Any month in which any of the following conditions exists shall not be counted as one of the 24 months of participation allowed under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a):

(1) The recipient is participating in job search in accordance with Section 11325.22, assessment pursuant to Section 11325.4, is in the process of appraisal as described in Section 11325.2, or is participating in the development of a welfare-to-work plan as described in Section 11325.21.

(2) The recipient is no longer receiving aid, pursuant to Sections 11327.4 and 11327.5.

(3) The recipient has been excused from participation for good cause, pursuant to Section 11320.3.

(4) The recipient is exempt from participation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3.

(5) The recipient is only required to participate in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 11320.3.

(6) The recipient is participating in family stabilization pursuant to Section 11325.24, and the recipient would meet the criteria for good cause pursuant to Section 11320.3. This paragraph may apply to a recipient for no more than six cumulative months.

(c) County welfare departments shall provide each recipient who is subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) written notice describing the 24-month time limitation described in that paragraph and the process by which recipients may claim exemptions from, and extensions to, those requirements.

(d) The notice described in subdivision (c) shall be provided at the time the individual applies for aid, during the recipient’s annual redetermination, and at least once after the individual has participated for a total of 18 months, and prior to the end of the 21st month, that count toward the 24-month time limit.

(e) The notice described in this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The number of remaining months the adult recipient may be eligible to receive aid.

(2) The requirements that the recipient must meet in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and the action that the county will take if the adult recipient does not meet those requirements.

(3) The manner in which the recipient may dispute the number of months counted toward the 24-month time limit.

(4) The opportunity for the recipient to modify their welfare-to-work plan to meet the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).

(5) The opportunity for an exemption to, or extension of, the 24-month time limitation.

(f) For an individual subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), who is not exempt or granted an extension, and who does not meet those requirements, the provisions of Sections 11327.4, 11327.5, 11327.9, and 11328.2 shall apply to the extent consistent with the requirements of this section. For purposes of this section, the procedures referenced in this subdivision shall not be described as sanctions.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) or any other law, an assistance unit that contains an eligible adult who has received assistance under this chapter, or from any state pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (Part A (commencing with Section 401) of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.)) prior to January 1, 2013, may continue in a welfare-to-work plan that meets the requirements of Section 11322.6 for a cumulative period of 24 months commencing January 1, 2013, unless or until the eligible adult exceeds the 48-month time limitation described in Section 11454.

(2) All months of assistance described in paragraph (1) prior to January 1, 2013, shall not be applied to the 24-month limitation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

(i) This section shall become inoperative on May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the changes associated with the repeal of this section, whichever date is later, and, as of January 1 of the following year, is repealed.