SACRAMENTO >> Assembly Bill 1567 authored by Nora Campos (D- San Jose) was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday. The measure will waive fees and give homeless and foster youth priority access to state funded afterschool programs. Additionally, AB 1567 will ensure that afterschool programs utilize all federally funded resources available to prevent hunger and support healthy outcomes.
“The signing of AB 1567 will help improve school success among our state’s most vulnerable children,” said Campos. “Giving kids access to afterschool and summer programs helps children escape poverty by caring for their basic needs and improving their access to a true quality education.”
More than 1 in 4 California children live below the poverty line. Afterschool programs play a vital role in providing safe places for kids where they can get various support services such as homework assistance, snacks, and meal programs.
“We are grateful for Assemblywoman Campos’ leadership to create easier access to safe and healthy afterschool experiences for children who are homeless and for foster youth,” said Jessica Bartholow, a policy advocate for Western Center on Law and Poverty that co-sponsored the bill. “We have represented homeless families who could not access to these programs because they simply didn’t have the $10 fee. AB 1567 will eliminate the fee for these families and give them priority enrollment. We are thrilled.”
