us-ca/statute/wic/18997.51 — 18997.51. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 20, Sec. 41.)

(a)“Account,” “trust account,” or “HOPE trust account,”…#

(a) “Account,” “trust account,” or “HOPE trust account,” means the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account in the name of an eligible child or eligible youth.

(b)“Board” means the California Hope, Opportunity,…#

(b) “Board” means the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program Board established pursuant to Section 18997.52.

(c)“Department” means the State Department of Social…#

(c) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services.

(d)“Eligible child” means either a resident of California…#

(d) “Eligible child” means either a resident of California who is under 18 years of age, is not emancipated from their parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian, and meets one of the following qualifications, or a resident of California who is 18 years of age or older and who, prior to attaining 18 years of age, was not emancipated from their parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian and met the qualification in paragraph (1):

(1) (A) They reside in California and their parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian died during the federally declared COVID-19 public health emergency, and the cause of death for the parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian is listed as COVID-19 on their death certificate or they died as a medically recognized consequence of having long-term COVID-19, and the minor’s family household income, considering the income prior to the death of the parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian, is at or below the income that would make the child eligible for Medi-Cal benefits under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3. For purposes of this paragraph, “family household income” is limited to the incomes of parents, Indian custodians, or legal guardians, and “federal poverty level” means the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of Section 9902(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(B) The Treasurer shall verify the cause of death of the parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian once they receive either of the following:

(i)A death certificate that lists the cause of death as…#

(i) A death certificate that lists the cause of death as COVID-19.

(ii)A death certificate that lists the cause of death as a…#

(ii) A death certificate that lists the cause of death as a medically recognized consequence of having long-term COVID-19 and documentation that the person was diagnosed or was in the process of being diagnosed with long-term COVID-19.

(C) The Treasurer shall verify the minor’s family household income prior to the death of the parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian once they receive either of the following:

(i) Government-issued documents that establish the identity of the child and that the person whose death certificate was provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) was their parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian with whom the child resided.

(ii) A statement signed by a person who is eligible to do so under penalty of perjury that establishes the identity of the child and that the person whose death certificate was provided pursuant to subparagraph (B) was the child’s parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian with whom the child resided. The Treasurer’s office, in consultation with the board, shall establish a process to challenge a statement submitted pursuant to this clause.

(2) (A) A foster child who resides in California, or is a California resident who is placed out of state by a juvenile or tribal court, and meets both of the following:

(i) The child has been adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child is a person described by Section 300, or the child has been adjudged a ward of the juvenile court on the grounds that the child is a person described by Section 601 or 602, or the child is a dependent child of the court of an Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization who is the subject of a petition filed in the tribal court pursuant to the tribal court’s jurisdiction in accordance with the tribe’s law and the tribe has notified the department or the HOPE Trust Account Program about the child’s status as a dependent child under the tribal court. The department shall not require an Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, tribal organization, or tribal court representative to notify the department of any child who is a dependent of the tribal court.

(ii) The child meets one of the following:

(I) The child is subject to a foster care order, has been in foster care for at least 18 months, and reunification services have been terminated by an order of a juvenile or tribal court.

(II) The child is subject to a foster care order after 16 years of age, and reunification services have been terminated by an order of a juvenile or tribal court.

(B) Notwithstanding clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), if the child reunifies with their parent, Indian custodian, or legal guardian, is adopted, enters into a tribal customary adoption, or is placed into a legal guardianship, at any point in time subsequent to meeting the qualification specified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the child shall remain an eligible child and program enrollee and shall be able to access their HOPE trust account, but shall no longer be eligible for annual contributions effective 12 months following the date of reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship, or until the child reaches 18 years of age, whichever is sooner.

(e) “Eligible youth” means a program enrollee for whom a HOPE trust account was established and who is now eligible to withdraw or transfer funds from their HOPE trust account.

(f) “Fund” means the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Fund created pursuant to Section 18997.53.

(g) “HOPE Trust Account Program” or “program” means the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program established pursuant to this chapter.

(h) “Program enrollee” means an eligible child who has been enrolled in the program and an eligible youth who enrolled as an eligible child was in the program and has not terminated their participation.