(

a) Notwithstanding any other law, and to the extent permitted by federal law, any compensation awarded to a pupil member pursuant to subdivision (

h) of

Section shall not be considered as income or resources when determining eligibility and benefit amount for any means-tested program, including, but not limited to, CalWORKs, General Assistance, Medi-Cal, and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), and any scholarships for public colleges and universities, including, but not limited to, Cal Grant awards, Chafee grant awards, Middle Class Scholarship Program awards, California College Promise Grants, California State University Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) grants, Community College Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) grants, and grants from the University of California or the California State University. (

b) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with

Section 11340) of Part of Division of Title of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this

section for programs under its jurisdiction by means of all-county letters or similar written instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. These all-county letters or similar instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations. (

c) This

section shall apply to programs under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Social Services beginning on the date that the State Department of Social Services notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this

section for those programs. The department shall issue guidance as necessary to begin automation no later than July 1, 2026.