AB194:v98#DOCUMENTBill Start
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 19, 2019
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 194
Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes
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January 10, 2019 |
An act to add Section 8209.1 to the Education Code, relating to childcare and development services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 194, as amended, Reyes.
Childcare and development services.
The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Education, provides that children from infancy to 13 years of age are eligible for federal and state subsidized child development services if their families meet at least one requirement in each of certain areas. The act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer general childcare and development programs with funds appropriated for these purposes, as provided. The act also requires the department to contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs for services provided throughout the state.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations relating to early care and education programs and would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to appropriate $1,000,000,000
provide that $1,000,000,000 shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to immediately improve access to alternative payment programs and general childcare and development programs.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NOYES
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1) Research shows that access to quality early care and education programs is crucial to children, families, and the future success of the state.
(2) Early care and education programs provide young children with valuable early learning and child development experiences that get them ready for school and a successful future. With access to quality early learning and childcare, families can go to work and provide for their needs knowing that their children are safe, nurtured, and learning.
(b) In recognizing the benefits of quality early care and education to a child’s lifelong well-being and to the path of families to self-sufficiency, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would build a strong foundation for the early care and education system so it can optimally serve the unique needs of California’s families and young children.
SEC. 2.
(a)The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:(1)
(a) Mounting research shows that high-quality early care and education programs equip young children with the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need to be ready to
enter kindergarten and have a bright future.
(2)
(b) Early care and education programs support the state’s working families by allowing them to go to work and earn a living. However, there is a severe shortage of childcare in California. Recent data shows that there are 1.2 million children eligible for state subsidized childcare who do not receive it because of the lack of access in the state.
(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would appropriate $1 billion to immediately improve access to alternative payment programs as described in Article 3 (commencing with Section 8220) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code and general childcare and development programs as described in Article 8 (commencing with Section 8240) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code for the state’s eligible children and families in need.
SEC. 3.
Section 8209.1 is added to the Education Code, to read:8209.1.
Upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute, one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) shall be made available to immediately improve access to alternative payment programs as described in Article 3 (commencing with Section 8220) and general childcare and development programs as described in Article 8 (commencing with Section 8240) for the state’s eligible children and families in need.