SACRAMENTO, CA – In a bipartisan and unanimous vote today, the California Senate passed a bill by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that will expand the eligibility for the young child tax credit, which will help struggling families and reduce poverty. 

SB 860 expands the eligibility of the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) from $1 earning to $0 to include in-home caregivers without paid work. Senator Rubio introduced a similar bill, SB 691, last year. Since the introduction of the bill, SB 860 has become a priority for Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

“The child tax credit is one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and supporting struggling families, and my bill, SB 860, will expand eligibility for this program,” said Senator Rubio. “Removing this unnecessary work requirement allows for an equitable distribution of financial resources to those who need it the most. I look forward to working with my colleagues, stakeholders and Governor Newsom on this issue.”

“We are proud to support Senator Rubio's bill to expand the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) to include households that do not earn income. Governor Newsom's budget included this idea because it's both smart and the right thing to do. Providing for the basic needs of young children grows more expensive every year and we have a historic budget surplus that can be invested in better outcomes for low-income families,” said Amy Everitt, President of Golden State Opportunity. “Regardless of their yearly earnings, parents of young children already have the hardest–and most important–job in America and deserve the same level of support as other working parents. This tax credit of up to $1,000 for each child under 6 would go a long way to helping struggling parents support their families.”

“SB 860 by Senator Rubio sets a clear vision of inclusion for all low income families with young children in California’s child tax credits," said Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California. "Evidence shows us that the Young Child Tax Credit and its federal counterpart, the Child Tax Credit (CTC), are proven tools for poverty reduction. With so many in California struggling with the cost of childcare, rent, and food, we need to ensure the eligibility of the YCTC does not leave out families struggling the most. As a proud co-sponsor of SB 860, we are thrilled to see this bill pass off the Senate Floor.”

“For too long our unpaid care takers have been excluded by our economy and tax credit system. The gender pay gap in unpaid household and care work disproportionately harms women, especially Latinas,” said Shimica Gaskins, President and CEO at GRACE - End Child Poverty California. “SB 860 takes a monumental step for California to ensure working families, regardless of their earned income, can fully benefit from the Young Child Tax Credit.” 

According to The Real Cost Measure in California 2021 report, over half of families with children under six in California struggle financially, and nearly one in three California households—over 3.5 million families (33%)— do not earn sufficient income to meet basic needs.

The bill passed the Senate on a 32-0 vote and is now headed to the Assembly.

Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22. For more information, visit https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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Media contact: Edward Barrera, edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov