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SB 85 · 2023-24

Extends refugee services using state funds

Official subject Immigration: case management and social services.

Vetoed Vetoed Sept. 28, 2024

Plain-language summary

Refugees who complete 90 days of services under the federal Reception and Placement Program (RPP) and exhaust federal funds may get a 90-day extension paid with state funds, within 12 months of arrival. Services include English language and job training and case management. Nonprofits, counties, and RPP agencies may provide them.

How these summaries are written

Official summary · Legislative Counsel's Digest

Describes the final version (Enrolled, Aug. 29, 2024).

Read the official summary (3 paragraphs)

The federal Reception and Placement Program (RPP) under the United States Department of State is established to serve refugees during their first 3 months after arrival in the United States, through contracts with local resettlement agencies to provide various services using federal funds.

Existing state law requires the State Department of Social Services, after setting aside the necessary state administrative funds, to allocate federal funds appropriated for refugee social services programs to each eligible county or service provider, as defined, based on the number of refugees receiving aid, or who reside, in the eligible county. If an eligible county or service provider that receives funds declines all or part of those funds, or returns unexpended funds, existing law authorizes the department to exercise its discretion to reallocate the declined or returned funds among eligible counties and service providers. Existing law conditions the applicability of the requirements under these provisions on the availability of federal funds.

This bill would make those requirements also applicable if state funds are available subject to an appropriation. Under the bill, if a refugee recipient of refugee social services under RPP completes 90 days of those services and exhausts the federal funds allocated for that recipient, the recipient would be eligible for a 90-day extension of those services using state funds within the first 12 months of arrival in the United States. The bill would require that services covered pursuant to these provisions include (1) English language and employment training and (2) case management services, as specified. The bill would authorize a qualified nonprofit organization, an eligible county, or any office or affiliate of the agencies authorized under RPP to provide these services. The bill would also make conforming changes to related provisions.

Official title

An act to amend Sections 13275, 13276, 13277, and 13282 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to immigration.

Veto message · Sept. 28, 2024

The Governor's message, verbatim.

To the members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 85 without my signature.
This bill allows the Department of Social Services (DSS) to allocate state funds for refugee social services programs, and extends the duration of services available for refugees, after they have exhausted their federally funded services, by an additional 90 days.
I appreciate the intent of this bill and thank the Legislature for its commitment to assist refugees with resettlement in this state. California is one of the most welcoming states in the nation and works in partnership to support an array of services to help refugees resettle in California. This includes legal services, management of federal funds, technical assistance with local partners, programs for young refugees, expedited professional licensing, and more. The state also supports people seeking humanitarian protections through an immigration process different from federally managed refugee resettlement.
However, providing extended case management services to refugees beyond the three months of services provided by the federal government would create significant, ongoing cost pressures on the state General Fund.
In partnership with the Legislature this year, my Administration has enacted a balanced budget that avoids deep program cuts to vital services and protected investments in education, health care, climate, public safety, housing, and social service programs that millions of Californians rely on. It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure.
For this reason, I cannot sign this bill.
Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

Timeline

  1. Jan. 13, 2023 Introduced
  2. Jan. 25, 2024 Passed Senate 29 yes, 0 no
  3. Aug. 26, 2024 Passed Assembly 65 yes, 0 no
  4. Sept. 3, 2024 Enrolled and sent to the Governor
  5. Sept. 28, 2024 Vetoed by the Governor
Full official history (29 actions)
  1. Jan. 13, 2023 Introduced: Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
  2. Jan. 17, 2023 From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 13.
  3. Jan. 25, 2023 Referred to Com. on HUMANS S.
  4. Feb. 23, 2023 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
  5. March 13, 2023 Set for hearing April 24.
  6. April 17, 2023 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
  7. April 25, 2023 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 876.) (April 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  8. May 1, 2023 Set for hearing May 8.
  9. May 8, 2023 May 8 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.
  10. May 12, 2023 Set for hearing May 18.
  11. May 18, 2023 May 18 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
  12. Jan. 12, 2024 Set for hearing January 18.
  13. Jan. 18, 2024 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2. Page 3011.) (January 18).
  14. Jan. 22, 2024 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  15. Jan. 25, 2024 Passed Senate: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 29. Noes 0. Page 3035.) Ordered to the Assembly.
  16. Jan. 25, 2024 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
  17. April 29, 2024 Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
  18. June 17, 2024 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 11).
  19. June 18, 2024 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
  20. July 2, 2024 July 2 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
  21. Aug. 15, 2024 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 15).
  22. Aug. 19, 2024 Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
  23. Aug. 20, 2024 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
  24. Aug. 26, 2024 Passed Assembly: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 65. Noes 0. Page 6541.) Ordered to the Senate.
  25. Aug. 26, 2024 In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
  26. Aug. 27, 2024 Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 5504.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
  27. Sept. 3, 2024 Enrolled and sent to the Governor: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
  28. Sept. 28, 2024 Vetoed by the Governor: Vetoed by the Governor.
  29. Sept. 28, 2024 In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.