Welcome, Reception, & Integration Grant Program

The bill creates the statewide welcome, reception, and integration grant program (grant program) in the department of labor and employment (department) to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation of services and programs to migrants who are within one year of arrival in the United States. A grant may be used for:

• Conducting an intake and assessment of needs;
• Providing cultural orientation; case management; employment services or referrals to employment services; housing, housing-related services, or referrals to housing; English as a second language classes or referrals to classes; financial orientation; referrals to mental and physical health services; interpretation and translation services; transportation services; and immigration legal assistance or referrals to immigration legal services;
• Distributing emergency and transitional supplies;
• Assisting migrant parents to enroll their children in public school or summer programs, including early childhood programs; and
• Other eligible expenses.

The bill requires the department to issue a request for proposal for a nonprofit organization to administer the grant program.

For the 2024-25 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the department for the grant program.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)