CA Lawmakers Propose $23M for Successful Statewide Reentry Initiative
Center for Employment Opportunities calls on Gov. Newsom to protect funding in final FY26 budget
CEO Media Contact:
Claire Gross, Sr. Manager Public Relations
[email protected] | (646) 370-8292
SACRAMENTO, CA — June 10, 2024 — Today, both chambers of the California State Legislature released a joint FY26 budget proposal that includes $23 million in funding to sustain the groundbreaking reentry initiative, Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment (HIRE). The following is a statement from the Center for Employment Opportunities Chief Executive Officer Sam Schaffer:
“The Center for Employment Opportunities is thrilled to see the inclusion of $23 million to sustain the HIRE initiative in the California State Legislature’s FY26 budget proposal—an essential investment in the economic and social mobility of justice-impacted Californians.
The proposed funding is a testament to the tireless advocacy of state leaders who understand that employment is foundational to a successful reentry and strong communities. We are grateful to both houses of the Legislature and thank our champion, State Assemblymember Dr. Lashae Sharp-Collins, for her steadfast support of HIRE. We are also appreciative of State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Sharon Quirk-Silva, and State Senators Scott Wiener and Laura Richardson for their leadership and commitment to creating pathways to opportunity.
HIRE grants support job training, employment services, and vital needs based payments to people returning from incarceration in California. As savings from Proposition 47 dry up due to the passage of Proposition 36, it is more important than ever that California invests in programs that equip justice-impacted people with the tools and support they need to succeed. Without programs like HIRE, California is turning its back on people who are ready and willing to contribute to their communities—people who are essential to the state’s recovery and resilience.
We urge Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure these funds are protected and included in the final FY26 budget. California has the opportunity to lead the nation in building a fairer and more inclusive economy—and this funding is a critical step in that direction.”
Background on HIRE
In 2022, as a result of community advocacy led by CEO, the Re-Entry Providers Association of California, and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the California Legislature made a one-time appropriation of over $50 million to provide employment support services and direct cash assistance to people returning home from incarceration. As a result, the Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) Grant Program was created. Nearly $50M was awarded to 81 organizations, setting aside $10M for needs-based payments and an estimated 7,200 justice-impacted individuals being served across 22 counties.
Advocacy for HIRE’s direct cash component builds on concrete data that shows financial assistance keeps people from going back to prison. A groundbreaking and independent impact study published by MDRC in April 2025 found that CEO’s Returning Citizens Stimulus program significantly reduced parole violations in the year following release from incarceration—even though the cash installments lasted only 60 days.
About the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in more than 30 cities across 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted individuals have opportunities to achieve socioeconomic mobility. For more information, visit ceoworks.org.
