California
On this page: State policy resources
- Legislation: National Conference of State Legislatures
- Governors Summits National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
- State Policy Profile National Center for Children in Poverty
- State Policy Updates ZERO TO THREE
- State-by-State Data Center for Law and Social Policy
Legislation
2008 Enacted State Legislation
California SB1304 Chapter 61
Relates to existing law which until January 1, 2009, authorizes the County of San Mateo to develop and implement an individualized county child care subsidy plan to ensure that subsides received by the county are used to address local needs. Extends those provisions for 5 years.
2007 Enacted State Legislation
California AB1571 Chapter 415
Authorizes alternative payment programs, excluding programs that provide child care services to CalWORKSs recipients, under the Child Care and Development Services Act to apply for reimbursement of up to 3 percent of the contract amount, or for a greater amount subject to the discretion of the department based on the availability of the funds. Requires the Department of Education to approve or deny applications submitted on or before September 30 of each calendar year. Requires the department to distribute reimbursement funds for each approved application within 90 days of receiving the application if it was filed within a specified date range.
Proposed Legislation 2007
At least 23 bills that relate to early childhood issues were introduced in the California Legislature. They cover issues such as quality rating systems, child care licensing, exemptions from licensure, eligibility for child care subsidies, and resource and referral services. Four proposed bills address how funds are appropriated or spent. A bill under consideration requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually roll over unspent funds from the state preschool program into the
prekindergarten and family literacy program until all eligible children were served. Another bill appropriates funds to state child care resource and referral programs and local planning councils for certain children with disabilities, and requires an annual cost-of-living adjustment equivalent to those received by other similar programs in the state.
The Appropriations committee considered a proposal to require the Child Development Division, in the event that an original preschool contract award is terminated, suspended, or relinquished, to assign first priority to applicants that will maintain a preschool class within a specified area. The Senate Human Services committee received a bill that prohibits California Children and Families Page 2 of 16 Current through May 1, 2007 Program funds from being used to promote programs or activities that are not authorized by a certain statute or a voter initiative.
The Assembly Appropriations committee considered two bills that amend the Child Care and Development Services Act. One of them revises and reorganizes various provisions that relate to the reimbursement and auditing of child care and development providers. The other proposal allows child care contractors to increase the reserve fund they maintain from earned, but unexpended, state or federal child development funds affects from two percent to five percent. The bill’s sponsor believes that the current policy prevents these providers from maintaining a sufficient reserve for unforeseen budget pressures.
The Senate Education Committee reviewed a bill related to child care and development services and alternative payment programs. It authorizes an alternative payment program to apply for certain reimbursements, subject to the discretion of the State Department of Education. A different bill that was sent to this committee requires the State Department of Education, under certain circumstances, to collect data regarding child care and development programs and report its findings to the legislature.
Lawmakers considered a proposal that requires community dental programs which serve students in prekindergarten through sixth grade to be developmentally appropriate and have services provided by a licensed or registered dental professional. The Senate Health Committee considered a bill to require the Department of Developmental Services to implement guidelines to screen children enrolled in the Early Start program for autism spectrum disorders.
2006 Enacted State Legislation
California AB1080 Chapter 278
Requires the State Department of Education, if funds from the $45 million appropriation under the Child Care and Development Services Act are offered under a new competitive bidding process after January 1, 2008, due to the termination, suspension, or relinquishment of an original contract award and in order to maintain an existing class, to assign first priority to successful applicants that will maintain that class within the attendance area of the elementary school.
The Child Care and Development Services Act requires the Superintendent of Pubic Instruction to administer state preschool programs that include part-day and preschool appropriate programs for prekindergarten children three- to five- years old, inclusive. The act provides that $45 million out of the $50 million appropriation from the Budget Act of 2006 is to reimburse participating programs located in the attendance area of elementary schools based on the 2005 base Academic Performance Index on a per-child basis at the same rate that is used for the state preschool program.
California AB905 Chapter 110
Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to extend the currently authorized 60-working-day period of eligibility by an additional 60 days for child care and development services when it is determined that opportunities for employment have diminished to the degree that one or both parents cannot reasonably be expected to find employment within 60 working days and granting the extension is in the public interest.
California AB757 Chapter 323
Extends the minimum standard under the State Teachers’ Retirement Law to employees providing prekindergarten instruction. The State Teachers’ Retirement Law specifies the days or hours of creditable service that equal “full time” for the purpose of calculating benefits under the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, with a minimum standard applied to employees providing kindergarten through grade 12 instruction, as specified.
NGA Summit Summaries
Click here to view information about Governors summits.
State Policy Profile
California State Policy Profile
Click here to view California State Policy Profile of Health and Nutrition/ Early Care and Education/ Parenting and Economic Supports
State Policy Update
California First 5 Commissions Advocate for Early Childhood/Family Mental Health Systems
June 26, 2006
California’s county-level First 5 commissions receive funds raised through a tobacco tax initiative. The funds are dedicated to promoting child development prenatally through age 5. The county commissions have funded a wide range of projects to support the development of young children, including programs focusing on health, school readiness, family support, and children’s social-emotional health.
Nine of these California County First 5 Commissions (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Solano, Sonoma, and Santa Clara) and their community partners have recently formed a learning community on early childhood/family mental health services. The commissions came together in April with each county team sharing accomplishments, barriers, and results they expect to achieve. Small groups discussed issues of funding, collaboration, training and system innovation.
Among the many successes of the individual commissions has been their ability to garner additional funding for early childhood mental health services, especially by using EPSDT funds. Also, the commissions have worked with a diverse body of service providers to increase collaboration among child welfare, family court, family support, substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health services. Developing shared definitions of services and a common language across multiple disciplines was very important to a successful collaboration. Furthermore, the commissions have worked toward developing training programs, mentoring programs and fellowships to increase the number of well-qualified mental health professionals serving infants and their families.
Moving forward, the First 5 Commissions will continue to advocate for infants and toddlers by developing a more in-depth understanding of the local, state and national framework, and using that knowledge to build capacity for early childhood mental health. This would include the potential development of an evidence base to support the delivery of mental health consultation for very young children, as well as aligning the billing codes to allow reimbursement for dyadic intervention and screening and treatment of high risk young children. In addition, the commissions developed advocacy goals so to further their mission of engaging community support for infant mental health programs.
State Policy Roundup: Progress on Infant-Toddler Issues Across the United States
During the last six months, the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network has worked to keep members abreast of new and exciting infant-toddler legislation and campaigns happening across the country. This article summarizes these efforts and provides updates on the progress states are making in their efforts to serve infants, toddlers and their families. Read this article now! View the PDF here
State Policy Roundup: Progress on Infant-Toddler Policy Across the United States
Do you want to know about promising state and community initiatives that support the healthy development of infants, toddlers and their families? If so, read this article now, which summarizes the new and exciting infant-toddler legislation and campaigns happening across the country. The article describes these state and community efforts and provides updates on the progress they are making in their efforts to serve infants, toddlers and their families. View the PDF file here
STATE AND COMMUNITY POLICY ROUNDUP: PROGRESS ON INFANT-TODDLER ISSUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
July 23, 2007
The ZERO TO THREE Policy Network works to keep members abreast of new and exciting infant-toddler legislation and initiatives happening across the country. This article summarizes state and community policy activities during the first six months of 2007 and provides updates on the progress states and communities are making in their efforts to serve infants, toddlers and their families. View the PDF here
Child Care and Early Education State-by-State Data
Click here to view state-by-state data on child care funding, Head Start, community-based pre-k and infant and toddler initiatives.