CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 50

Introduced by Senator Limón
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Bonta and McCarty)

December 07, 2020

An act to amend Section 8236.2 of the Education Code, relating to early learning and care.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 50, as introduced, Limón. Early learning and care: California Early Learning and Care Program.
The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Education, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer childcare and development programs that offer a full range of services to eligible children from infancy to 13 years of age, inclusive. The act requires that families meet specified requirements to be eligible for federal- and state-subsidized childcare and development services. Existing law requires the department to arrange intraagency adjustments between California state preschool contracts and general childcare contracts for the same agency and funding allocation, and to establish timelines for intraagency contract fund transfers.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to establish the California Early Learning and Care Program to create a seamless, integrated, mixed-delivery, whole-child, 2-generation early learning and care system from birth to schoolage to advance the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. The bill would additionally require the department to allow and arrange for interagency adjustments between those contracts for the same agency or different agencies and the same funding allocation, and to establish timelines for those interagency contract fund transfers.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Research shows that the first five years of life are uniquely important for a child’s growth and development, and set the foundation for lifelong health, well-being, and success. Young children’s experiences and interactions with parents, caregivers, and educators shape the architecture of the brain and strengthen their cognitive, social, and emotional development.
(b) Early learning and care programs with a two-generation, whole-child approach that integrate comprehensive health and family supports hold great promise for children and families.
(c) Ensuring access to quality early learning and care, especially for those children and families most marginalized and excluded from opportunity, can help mitigate the impact of systemic racism and poverty and narrow disparities based on income and race.
(d) The annual Budget Act for the 2019–20 fiscal year required the state to adopt a Master Plan for Early Learning and Care to ensure comprehensive, quality, and affordable childcare and universal preschool for children from birth to schoolage.
(e) Building a more coherent and integrated early learning and care system and continuum will better meet the needs of children, families, and early learning and care providers.
(f) Robust parent engagement in childcare settings is important to meet the needs of working families and support parent choice.

SEC. 2.

 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish the California Early Learning and Care Program to create a seamless, integrated, mixed-delivery, whole-child, two-generation early learning and care system from birth to schoolage to advance the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care.
(b) Furthermore, it is also the intent of the Legislature to expand access to high-quality childcare for infants and toddlers in both centers and family childcare networks, and ensure the California Early Learning and Care Program gives providers the flexibility they need to adjust their services to meet the needs of families.

SEC. 3.

 Section 8236.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8236.2.
 (a) The department shall promote full utilization of child care childcare and development funds and match available unused funds with identified service needs. The department shall arrange intraagency To promote continuity of care for children and to meet community needs, the department shall allow and arrange intraagency and interagency adjustments between California state preschool contracts and general child care childcare contracts for the same agency and or different agencies and the same funding allocation. The department shall establish timelines for intraagency and interagency contract fund transfers.
(b) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provision provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer this section through the issuance of guidance or other written directives, which may include, but is not limited to, establishing timelines for submittal of requests to transfer funds.

(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2019.