The Transforming CalWORKs legislation, AB 119 (2025) makes several changes to Welfare-to-Work (WTW) transportation.
Counties may offer transportation services in various way, including, but not limited to, bus passes, private mileage, van pools, car repairs, car ownership programs, rideshare services, parking, and tolls. Counties have discretion about which services to offer.
Effective July 1, 2026, counties must advance all transportation supportive services payments to participants who need them to participate in their WTW activity. Counties must issue approved payments prior to the start of the activity. If the county is assessing or processing transportation payments, the participant cannot be sanctioned.
Counties are not expected to advance the exact actual cost of transportation. Counties must issue supplemental payments when actual transportation exceed the advanced amount as soon as administratively possible.
Counties must provide advance transportation for transporting the participant’s children when that is necessary for WTW participation.
Counties can issue vouchers or bus passes, or a standard advance transportation amount that equals the least costly form of public transportation available. Counties can also issue advance payments based on actual private mileage. The private mileage rate must either be the rate used by the county in its transportation plan, or the AAA or IRS mileage rates.
Counties can provide separate payments for gas, oil, insurance, license and registration fees, normal wear and tear, maintenance, parking, tolls, car repairs, and other costs directly related to transportation for the participant’s WTW activity. (ACL 26-31, May 1, 2026.)