(

a) The department shall institute a staff development and training program within the organizational structure to develop among staff the knowledge, understanding of children and childcare, and regulatory administration necessary to successfully carry out this act. Specifically, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide staff with hours of training per year that reflect the unique needs of children. The training shall include training relating to regulation administration, including communication skills, writing skills, and human relations skills.

(2) Find ways to encourage applications from individuals with childcare provider experience or educational backgrounds applicable to the provision of childcare.

(3) Provide new staff with comprehensive training within the first six months of employment. This training shall, at a minimum, include the following core areas: administrative action process, client populations, conducting facility visits, cultural awareness, documentation skills, facility operations, human relation skills, interviewing techniques, investigation processes, and regulation administration.

(4) This program shall also provide new staff who have earned fewer than semester units in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college at least hours of preservice training in child development or early childhood education. (

b) Submit for approval to the advisory committee established in

Section of the Welfare and Institutions Code a plan for meeting the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (a).