2023 California Code
Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC
DIVISION 4.5 - SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
CHAPTER 15 - Qualified ABLE Program
Section 4879.
4879. (a) Under the program, a person may make contributions for a taxable year, for the benefit of an individual who is an eligible individual for that taxable year, to an ABLE account that is established for the purpose of meeting the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary of the account if both of the following criteria are met:
(1) The designated beneficiary is limited to one ABLE account for purposes of this chapter.
(2) The ABLE account is established only for a designated beneficiary who is a resident of the United States.
(b) A contribution shall not be accepted if either of the following occurs:
(1) The contribution is not in cash.
(2) Except in the case of contributions under Section 529A(c)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to change in designated beneficiaries or programs, the contribution to an ABLE account would result in aggregate contributions from all contributors to the ABLE account for the taxable year exceeding the amount of both of the following:
(A) The amount allowed under Section 2503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to exclusion from gifts, for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.
(B) In the case of any contribution by a designated beneficiary described in Section 529A(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code before January 1, 2026, the lesser of either of the following:
(i) Compensation, as defined by Section 219(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, includible in the designated beneficiary’s gross income for the taxable year.
(ii) An amount equal to the poverty line for a one-person household as promulgated under Section 9902(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the taxable year begins.
(c) The designated beneficiary shall retain ownership of all contributions made to the designated beneficiary’s ABLE account to the date of utilization for qualified disability expenses, and all interest derived from the investment of the contributions to the designated beneficiary’s ABLE account shall be deemed to be held in the ABLE program trust for the benefit of the designated beneficiary. Neither the contributions, nor any interest derived therefrom, may be pledged as collateral for any loan.
(d) The board shall develop adequate safeguards to prevent aggregate contributions on behalf of a designated beneficiary in excess of the maximum contribution limits necessary to provide for the qualified disability expenses of the designated beneficiary. For purposes of this subdivision, aggregate contributions include contributions under any prior qualified ABLE program of any state or agency or instrumentality thereof.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 896, Sec. 2. (AB 2216) Effective January 1, 2023.)
