News Update

Bill would give low-income high school seniors checks near graduation

A state senator has introduced a bill to give low-income high school seniors who have experienced homelessness no-strings-attached checks as they prepare to graduate and get ready for higher education, job training or work.

The bill authored by state Sen. Dave Cortese, D-Campbell, passed the Senate Education Committee without opposition on Wednesday, CalMatters reported. It does not specify how students would apply for the funds or how much money would be provided.

The idea is to give the graduates a financial bridge to the fall when they either enter college or vocational training and financial aid kicks in or while they seek employment and enter the workforce. The proposal is aimed at about 15,000 high school seniors who have experienced homelessness and is part of a  larger movement to provide Californians living in poverty with a guaranteed minimum income, CalMatters reported.

“Cortese said he’s hoping the pilot program would offer $1,000 monthly checks for four or five months for the 2023 graduating class, possibly costing the state about $85 million a year,” CalMatters reported.