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Government Relations
California State Budget
California has been awarded $964 million in federal funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to address the pandemic-related impacts on families and child care providers within the early learning and care system. From that funding, Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized $402 million to support subsidized child care and State Preschool providers for:
• $244 million for one-time, flat-rate stipends
• Reimbursement to providers for additional non- operational days for closures related to COVID-19, for certain contracts
• $76 million to extend Emergency Child Care through June 30, 2022
• $80 million (about 8,000 slots) to enroll additional children in Emergency Child Care through June 30, 2022
The agreement between the State and the Child Care Providers United union dictates that voucher-based providers will be reimbursed a total of 30 non-operational days of closure related to COVID-19 between Sept. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Providers serving children through
a Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) contractor may be reimbursed for up 30 non-operational days for closures related to COVID-19 between Sept. 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 when the closures are not due to a public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning and care.
The governor signed off on $76 million to extend Emergency Child Care services through June 30, 2022 for families currently enrolled in Emergency Child Care who have been unable to transition into ongoing subsidized child care. This is on top of the governor’s proposed state budget, which includes:
• $55 million for one-time COVID relief for child care providers and parents
• $21.5 million expansion for Alternative Payment (AP) vouchers for 2021
• $65 million ongoing expansion of Alternative Payment (AP) vouchers
• $450 million in one-time funds to expand Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
• $50 million in one-time funds to expand professional development for teacher preparation for TK teachers
PERSPECTIVES NEWSLETTER
State Legislation
Two proposed state bills, Assembly Bill 92 and Senate Bill 246, would significantly change the child care family fee and reimbursement rate structures.
AB 92 (Reyes) would waive family fees through
Oct. 31, 2022, and establish a workgroup to consider how to create a new family fee structure to reduce the burden of fees for preschool and child care and development services.
SB 246 (Leyva) would implement reimbursement rate reform to develop a single rate structure with adjustments for quality, geographic location and other factors, and increase the Regional Market Rate in the meantime.
Transition of ECE Programs to DSS
The California Department of Social Services published its plan to transition ECE programs from the Department of Education to Department of Social Services. This transition will include all child care and early learning programs except California State Preschool and will take effect
July 1, 2021.
To support this transition, Gov. Newsom has appointed Maria Guadalupe “Lupe” Jaime-Mileham to serve as Deputy Director for the new Child Care and Development Division at DSS. She is a member of the Early Childhood Policy Council (ECPC) and has worked in ECE for over
20 years.
Assembly Bill 393 (Reyes) would provide guidance to ensure the smooth transition of ECE programs to the Department of Social Services.
For up-to-the-minute child care information from
our government relations team, follow CCRC @ccrc4kids on Twitter.