(a) First priority for expenditures of any funds allocated in Section 79204 shall be for the support of current CalWORKs recipients.

(b) If the needs of current CalWORKs recipients are insufficient to fully utilize all of the funding allocated pursuant to Section 79204 in a cost-effective way, the chancellor, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, may allocate a portion of the funds allocated pursuant to Section 79204 for the purpose of providing postemployment services to former CalWORKs recipients.

(c) Prior to an allocation of funds for postemployment services pursuant to subdivision (b), the chancellor shall secure the approval of the Department of Finance for the allocations, complete a cumulative report on the outcomes, activities, and cost-effectiveness of the program of funding specified in Section 79204 no later than February 15 of each year, and provide the rationale and justification for the proposed allocation of funds for postemployment services by community college districts for former CalWORKs recipients.

(d) Funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be used only for former CalWORKs recipients who have been off of cash assistance for not longer than two years to assist them in upgrading skills, job retention, and advancement, by means of one or more of the following:

(1) Direct instruction that cannot be funded by other means.

(2) Child care to support attendance in classes consistent with this article for periods commensurate with a student’s need for postemployment training within the two-year period.

(3) Job development and placement services.

(4) Career counseling and assessment activities that cannot be funded through other programs.

(Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 34, Sec. 13. (SB 860) Effective June 20, 2014.)