20250AB__147198AMD INTRODUCED 2025-02-21 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2025-03-28 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Soria LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Soria

An act to repeal and add

Section 10224.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to childcare. childcare Resource and referral agencies. Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, establishes a system of childcare and development services for children up to years of age. Existing law establishes childcare resource and referral programs to serve a defined geographic area and provide prescribed services.

Among the services provided by these programs is the establishment of a referral process that responds to parental need for information and that makes referrals to licensed child daycare facilities, as specified. Existing law requires federal funds allocated to local childcare resource and referral agencies to support their continued participation in COVID-19 relief and recovery to be used to strengthen their role in serving as intermediaries to develop new, and support existing, childcare facilities and capacity and to streamline and improve data collection processes, as specified.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision.</xhtml:p>"?> This bill would repeal that provision and instead require, upon appropriation by Legislature, local childcare resource and referral agencies to take specified actions relating to assisting childcare providers during a disaster, including, among others, implementing certain roles and responsibilities assigned to them in specified disaster plans.

The bill would also require, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to implement the roles and responsibilities assigned to it in those disaster plans. The bill would require the department, in consultation with local childcare resource and referral agencies, to establish data collection and reporting requirements relating to disasters and disaster preparedness for childcare providers. MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 10224.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is repealed. <caml:Num>10224.5.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_2BC315F1-7385-4240-B422-C430DAD910AB"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Federal funds allocated to local child care resource and referral agencies to support their continued participation in COVID-19 relief and recovery shall include, but not be limited to, strengthening their role in serving as intermediaries to develop new, and support existing, child care facilities and capacity, and to streamline and improve data collection processes in collaboration with the state for use by the agencies and by the state.

Additional data reporting shall include gathering data from providers and updating information on child care provider status, capacity, and vacancy at least once a month. Data collected shall be provided to the department or its designee at least monthly. The department shall provide guidance regarding data collection and reporting requirements pursuant to this section.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It is the intent of the Legislature to allocate funds for the purposes described in subdivision (

a) annually, subject to an appropriation for this purpose.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection>"?>

SEC.

Section 10224.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code , to read: 10224.5. (a)

(1) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, local childcare resource and referral agencies shall do all of the following: (

A) Implement the roles and responsibilities assigned to resource and referral programs and resource and referral agencies in the disaster plans. (

B) Support childcare providers in establishing and communicating their disaster response policies, helping to build relationships with local emergency response teams, and offering training to ensure that childcare providers’ emergency contact information and disaster preparedness supplies are up to date. (

C) Provide relief and recovery to childcare providers, including, but not limited to, by serving as intermediaries to develop new, and support existing, childcare facilities and capacity, and by collaborating with the department to streamline and improve data collection processes.

(2) The department shall, in consultation with childcare resource and referral agencies, establish data collection and reporting requirements relating to disasters and disaster preparedness for childcare providers, which shall include, but not be limited to, a requirement for childcare providers to provide data relating to childcare provider status, capacity, and vacancy. (

b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network shall implement the roles and responsibilities assigned to it in the disaster plans. (

c) For the purposes of this section, “disaster plans” means the California Child Care Disaster Plan and California’s Statewide Interagency Childcare Disaster Plan, published in October 2023. <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:WIC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'9.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.8.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'10219.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section of the <caml:DocName>Welfare and Institutions Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_6C4D6580-45D6-4E46-BE96-6043275AA12B"><caml:Num>10219.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_EF110A44-AECC-46E9-86B2-A4FE10E1109A"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>For purposes of this chapter, child care resource and referral programs, established to serve a defined geographic area, shall provide the following services:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Identification of the full range of existing child care services through information provided by all relevant public and private agencies in the areas of service, and the development of a resource file of those services that shall be maintained and updated at least quarterly.

These services shall include, but not be limited to, family child care homes, public and private child care programs, full-time and part-time programs, and infant, preschool, and extended care programs.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The resource file shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(i)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Type of program.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Hours of service.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(iii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Ages of children served.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(iv)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Fees and eligibility for services.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(v)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Significant program information.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(i)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Establishment of a referral process that responds to parental need for information and provides full recognition of the confidentiality rights of parents.

Resource and referral programs shall make referrals to licensed child day care facilities. Referrals shall be made to unlicensed care facilities only if there is no requirement that the facility be licensed. The referral process shall afford parents maximum access to all referral information. This access shall include, but is not limited to, telephone referrals to be made available for at least hours per week as part of a full week of operation.

Every effort shall be made to reach all parents within the defined geographic area, including, but not limited to, any of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(I)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Toll-free telephone lines.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(II)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Office space convenient to parents and providers.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(III)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Referrals in languages that are spoken in the community.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Each child care resource and referral program shall publicize its services through all available media sources, agencies, and other appropriate methods.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(

i) Provision of information to any person who requests a child care referral of their right to view the licensing information of a licensed child day care facility required to be maintained at the facility pursuant to

Section 1596.859 of the Health and Safety Code and to access any public files pertaining to the facility that are maintained by the department’s Community Care Licensing Division.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A written or oral advisement in substantially the following form will comply with the requirements of clause (i):</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>“State law requires licensed child day care facilities to make accessible to the public a copy of any licensing report pertaining to the facility that documents a facility visit or a substantiated complaint investigation.

In addition, a more complete file regarding a child care licensee may be available at an office of the State Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division. You have the right to access any public information in these files.”</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Maintenance of ongoing documentation of requests for service tabulated through the internal referral process.

The following documentation of requests for service shall be maintained by all child care resource and referral programs:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(i)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Number of calls and contacts to the child care information and referral program or component.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Ages of children served.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(iii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Time category of child care request for each child.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(iv)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Special time category, such as nights, weekends, and swing shift.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(v)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Reason that the child care is needed.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>This information shall be maintained in a manner that is easily accessible for dissemination purposes and shall be accessible to local child care and development planning councils authorized pursuant to

Section and any county implementing an individualized county child care subsidy plan.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(4)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Provision of technical assistance to existing and potential providers of all types of child care services.

This assistance shall include, but not be limited to:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Information on all aspects of initiating new child care services including, but not limited to, licensing, zoning, program and budget development, and assistance in finding this information from other sources.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Information and resources that help existing child care services providers to maximize their ability to serve the children and parents of their community.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(C)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Dissemination of information on current public issues affecting the local and state delivery of child care services.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(D)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Facilitation of communication between existing child care and child-related services providers in the community served.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(5)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(i)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Provision of a child care navigator to support children in foster care, children previously in foster care upon return to their home of origin, and children of parents involved in the child welfare system, including the children of nonminor dependents.

The navigator shall work with the child’s family, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (

d) of

Section 11461.6, and the child’s social worker and child and family team to assess child care opportunities appropriate to the child’s age and needs, assist the family in identifying potential opportunities for an ongoing child care subsidy, assist the caregiver in completing appropriate child care program applications, and develop an overall, long-term child care plan for the child.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>As a condition of receiving funds pursuant to this subparagraph, each resource and referral program shall develop and enter into a memorandum of understanding, contract, or other formal agreement with the county child welfare agency in order to facilitate interagency communication and, to the maximum extent possible, to leverage federal funding, including administrative funding, available pursuant to Title IV–E of the federal Social Security Act, to enhance the navigation support authorized under this subparagraph, or the resource and referral program shall explain, in writing, annually, why entering into a memorandum of understanding, contract, or other formal agreement with the county child welfare agency is not practical or feasible.

Navigator services provided pursuant to this subparagraph shall be made available to any child in foster care, any child previously in foster care who has returned to their home of origin, and any child of parents involved in the child welfare system, including any child who meets the eligibility criteria for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children established pursuant to

Section 11461.6. Eligibility for navigator services shall not be contingent on a child’s receipt of a child care payment or voucher.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(i)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Provision of trauma-informed training and coaching to child care providers working with children, and children of parenting youth, in the foster care system. Training shall include, but not be limited to, infant and toddler development and research-based, trauma-informed best care practices.

Child care providers shall be provided with coaching to assist them in applying training techniques and strategies for working with children, and children of parenting youth, in foster care.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(ii)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>As a condition of receiving funds pursuant to this subparagraph, each resource and referral program, in coordination with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, shall develop and enter into a memorandum of understanding, contract, or other formal agreement with the county child welfare agency in order to, to the maximum extent possible, leverage federal funding, including training funds, available pursuant to Title IV–E of the federal Social Security Act, to enhance the training support authorized under this subparagraph, or the resource and referral agency shall explain, in writing, annually, why entering into a memorandum of understanding, contract, or other formal agreement with the county child welfare agency is not practical or feasible.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Services prescribed by this

section shall be provided in order to maximize parental choice in the selection of child care to facilitate the maintenance and development of child care services and resources.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A program operating pursuant to this

chapter shall, within two business days of receiving notice, remove a licensed child day care facility with a revocation or a temporary suspension order, or that is on probation from the program’s referral list.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A program operating pursuant to this

chapter shall, within two business days of receiving notice, notify all entities, operating a program under

Chapter 3 (commencing with

Section 10225) and

Chapter 21 (commencing with

Section 10370) in the program’s jurisdiction, of a licensed child day care facility with a revocation or a temporary suspension order, or that is on probation.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>