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California lawmakers approved this Thursday the first guaranteed income plan of the country for monthly cash payment to eligible pregnant women and young adults in need .
Funded by California taxpayer money, the $ 35 million dollars is considered innovative because beneficiaries will have the freedom to decide how to spend the money. It is believed that other states in the country could emulate it.
The plan was approved unanimously (36 – 0 in the Senate and 64 – 0 in the Assembly), reported The Associated Press .
Local governments and organizations will request the money and manage their programs. The California Department of Social Services will be the one to decide who will receive financial support, explained the report.
“If you look at the statistics of our young people in need, they are devastating, “said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk. “We should do everything possible to promote these young people” .
Monthly payments will range from $ 500 to $ 1, 000 Dollars. California’s primary goal with this plan is to help pregnant women and out-of-foster youth, who often face brutal challenges in being able to support themselves.
For decades, most government assistance programs have had strict rules on how money can be spent, usually limiting benefits to things like food or housing.
The approval is given the same day that the first round of monthly payments began to be distributed by child tax credit nationwide, benefiting 35 millions of families.