Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 16. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program or KIDS Program.
California Education Code — §§ 69996-69996.9
Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 16. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.
This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program or KIDS Program.
Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 16. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.
The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program is hereby established. The board shall administer the program for the purposes of expanding access to higher education through savings.
Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 54, Sec. 20. (AB 183) Effective June 30, 2022.
For purposes of this article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
or supplemental contribution into a KIDS Account or another plan option determined by the board pursuant to Section 69996.9.
time to time, if, as determined by the board, the amendment is consistent with the purposes of this article.
one of the following:
Code, or at a registered apprenticeship program, as provided in Section 529(c)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code. Notwithstanding Section 529(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code, “qualified higher education expenses” shall not include any tuition expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 50, Sec. 7. (SB 117) Effective July 10, 2023.
street address and, if provided to the department, the parent’s mobile telephone number and email address. In addition, upon request by the board, the department shall include, in the birth data it provides to the board, information collected pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 102426 of the Health and Safety Code. The department may provide additional identifiable birth data to the board, upon request, and upon a determination by the State Registrar, in consultation with the board, that the data is necessary for administration of the program. To the extent permitted by state and federal law, the department shall provide amended birth record information of a child to the board in order to assist the board in verifying a legal name change of the child, and any other information necessary, for the administration of the program. The department is not required to provide the board amended
birth record information of a child that would reveal information that was sealed by statute or court order.
The birth data is confidential and shall not be disclosed except as necessary for the program. No more than 90 days after receiving the birth data from the department, the board shall notify at least one parent of each eligible child about the program. The notification shall include information on all of the following:
a secured internet link.
shall translate program notifications and information provided pursuant to subdivisions (b) to (d), inclusive, into languages pursuant to Section 7295.2 of the Government Code.
eligible institution of higher education.
Before the 2023–24 fiscal year, each seed deposit shall be at least twenty-five dollars ($25). Commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, each seed deposit shall be at least one hundred dollars ($100). The board may provide additional financial incentives designated for a child into a KIDS Account if the parent or legal guardian of the child engages with the KIDS Account by verifying receipt of information provided pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), establishing a separate account pursuant to Article 19 (commencing with Section 69980), or engaging with the KIDS Account by other means approved by the board.
that institution in an amount determined by the student or their parent or legal guardian, which may include the total or a partial amount of the seed deposit, enhanced deposit, if applicable, and any additional financial incentives designated for the child pursuant to subdivision (f), plus any investment earnings attributed to that amount since the date of that deposit as calculated by the board, for qualified higher education expenses associated with the child’s attendance at that institution.
If the child has no account balance with the institution, the institution may distribute funds received for the child pursuant to this subdivision directly to the child for the purpose of paying the child’s qualified higher education expenses.
deposit.
the beneficiary in a KIDS Account for a qualified higher education expense for any reason, including the death or disability of the beneficiary, before the beneficiary turns 26 years of age, all contributions made for the beneficiary into the KIDS Account and any earnings from those moneys shall be forfeited and deposited into the fund for the program.
reversion.
for purposes of the program for administrative costs. Unless otherwise specified in the annual Budget Act, this subdivision shall not apply to any one-time or ongoing local assistance funds first appropriated in support of the program beginning in the 2021–22 fiscal year.
sharing purposes, as necessary, for the implementation and operation of this article.
Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 16. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.
The board shall have the power and authority to do all of the following:
of federal, state, or local government or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation for deposit to the fund.
consultants, actuaries, managers, counsel, and auditors, as necessary for the purpose of rendering professional, managerial, and technical assistance and advice.
Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 16. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.
The board may consider marketing the program to California residents. The board may include in its marketing efforts information designed to educate California residents about the benefits of saving for higher education and information to help them decide the combination of savings strategies that may be appropriate for them.
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 195, Sec. 4. (SB 142) Effective September 13, 2023.
funds to implement the program before July 2, 2022, program implementation may be delayed while the board makes good faith efforts to secure necessary funding. The board may accept gifts, grants, awards, matching contributions, interest income, and appropriations from individuals, businesses, state and local governmental entities, and third-party sources for the program on terms the board deems advisable.
and coordination with local child savings account programs.
amount of funds expended to establish KIDS Accounts pursuant to this article in the previous five fiscal years.
support the program.
Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 54. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021.
program enhanced deposits and to establish KIDS Accounts for eligible children who do not already have a KIDS Account established.
expenses at an institution of higher education.
Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 55. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021.
Accounts authorized by this article shall not be pledged as collateral for any loan.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 9, Sec. 7. (AB 123) Effective June 27, 2025.
(A) Each pupil enrolled in grades 1 to 12, inclusive, on the State Department of Education’s official census day in the 2021–22 fiscal year who meets the requirements to be considered an unduplicated pupil for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2574 or paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02 and who is enrolled at a school district, public charter school, state special school, or other local educational agency, shall have a KIDS Account established on the pupil’s behalf, unless the pupil’s KIDS Account has already been established pursuant to Section 69996.3, and shall receive an enhanced deposit into the pupil’s
KIDS Account in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500).
(B) In addition to the amount allocated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the KIDS Account of each eligible pupil who is also a foster youth, as defined under subdivision (b) of Section 42238.01, shall receive an enhanced deposit of an additional five hundred dollars ($500).
(C) In addition to the amount allocated pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B), the KIDS Account of each eligible pupil who is also a homeless pupil meeting the definition of “homeless children and youths” in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)) shall receive an enhanced deposit of an additional five hundred dollars ($500).
occur:
(ii) The pupil meets the requirements to be considered an unduplicated pupil for purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2574 or paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 42238.02.
(iii) The pupil is enrolled at a school district, public charter school, state special school, or other local educational
agency.
(B) In addition to the amount allocated pursuant to subparagraph (A), the KIDS Account of each pupil who meets the requirements of subparagraph (A) and is also a foster youth, as defined under subdivision (b) of Section 42238.01, shall receive an enhanced deposit of an additional five hundred dollars ($500).
(C) In addition to the amount allocated pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B), the KIDS Account of each pupil who meets the requirements of subparagraph (A) and is also a homeless pupil under the definition of “homeless children and youths” in subsection (2) of Section 725 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11434a(2)) shall receive an enhanced deposit of an additional five hundred dollars ($500).
(D) For pupils for whom a KIDS Account has already been established
pursuant to Section 69996.3 and who are also eligible for an enhanced deposit pursuant to this paragraph, the enhanced deposit shall be deposited in the KIDS Account in which funding for that pupil is currently held.
(II) Each foster youth pupil described in subclause (I) who did not previously receive a deposit pursuant to either subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), or subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(2), shall further receive an enhanced deposit of five hundred dollars ($500) in addition to the deposit pursuant to subclause (I).
(III) Upon receiving an enhanced deposit pursuant to subclause (I) or (II) in any fiscal year, a pupil shall not be eligible for an enhanced deposit pursuant to subclause (I) or (II) in any subsequent fiscal year.
(ii) For pupils for whom a KIDS Account has already been established pursuant to Section 69996.3 and who are also eligible for an enhanced deposit pursuant to this subparagraph, the enhanced deposit shall be deposited in the KIDS Account in which funding for that pupil is currently held.
(B) This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2029.
KIDS Accounts or making an enhanced deposit into existing KIDS Accounts pursuant to this section. To the extent feasible, the State Department of Education shall annually provide necessary data using census day data in a secure manner for the board to fulfill its obligations pursuant to this article, including, but not necessarily limited to, eligible pupils’ names, pupil identification, birth dates, grade levels, contact information of parents or legal guardians, and eligibility information. For purposes of this subdivision, the information received by the board shall be considered necessary to facilitate the establishment or enhancement of KIDS Accounts, or the establishment of a notification process for parents or legal guardians of eligible pupils.
1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code) and all of the following federal statutes:
records or source data associated with the establishment of a KIDS Account pursuant to this article shall not be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).
2024–25
to 2029–30 fiscal years, inclusive, the board shall partner with the Riverside County Office of Education, including the 23 school districts in the County of Riverside, to explore ways to increase participation in the KIDS Program. For the 2025–26 to 2029–30 fiscal years, inclusive, the board shall partner with the San Diego Unified School District to explore ways to increase participation in the KIDS Program.
engaged with the KIDS Account established on their behalf commencing with the 2021–22 fiscal year. The board shall provide data at least three times per year to the extent feasible. Upon receipt of this data, the local educational agencies shall be responsible for complying with all applicable federal and state data privacy and data security laws relating to pupil record information.
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191, as amended).
of KIDS Program participants within the jurisdictions of the partnering local educational agencies that have registered on the program’s online portal and the number that have linked their KIDS Account to a Scholarshare 529 account.
(ii) The number of KIDS Program participants within the jurisdictions of the partnering local educational agencies that have requested a distribution of funds for qualified higher education expenses and the total amount of those payments.
(iii) A comparison of the rates specified in clauses (i) and (ii) with the rates of KIDS Program participants statewide.
(iv) As provided by the partnering local educational agencies, a description of the outreach strategies they implemented that were aimed at increasing participation in the KIDS Program, along with any information available on the
direct impact of each of those strategies.
(B) The board may include this information in its annual report on the KIDS Program pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 69996.6.