Bill Text: CA AB2381 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: California state preschool programs: reimbursement rates.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-24 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [AB2381 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB2381-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 21, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2381
| Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta |
February 12, 2024 |
An act to amend Section 8242 of the Education Code, relating to childcare.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2381, as amended, Bonta.
Childcare. California state preschool programs: reimbursement rates.
Existing law, the Early Education Act, among other things, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer all California state preschool programs. Existing law requires the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the State Department of Social Services, to implement a reimbursement system plan that establishes reasonable standards and assigned reimbursement rates, which vary with the length of the program year and the hours of service, for purposes of the act. Existing law requires those contractors who, as of December 31, 2021, received the established standard reimbursement rate to be reimbursed at the greater of the 75th percentile of the 2018 regional market rate survey or the contract per-child reimbursement amount as of December 31, 2021, as increased by a specified
cost-of-living adjustment.
This bill would instead require, for a contract whose period of performance begins on and after July 1, 2025, the contract reimbursement to be based on the lesser of the maximum reimbursable amount stated in the contract, the net reimbursable program costs, or the product of the adjusted child days of enrollment for certified children times the contract rate set forth in the above-described provisions.
Existing law, the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of child day care facilities by the State Department of Social Services.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to childcare.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8242 of the Education Code is amended to read:8242.
(a) The department, in collaboration with the State Department of Social Services, shall implement a reimbursement system plan that establishes reasonable standards and assigned reimbursement rates, which vary with the length of the program year and the hours of service.(1) Parent fees shall be used to pay reasonable and necessary costs for providing additional services.
(2) The department may establish any regulations deemed advisable concerning conditions of service and hours of enrollment for children in the programs.
(b) (1) (A) Commencing July 1, 2021, the standard reimbursement rate
shall be twelve thousand nine hundred sixty-eight dollars ($12,968).
(B) Commencing July 1, 2021, the standard reimbursement rate for part-day California state preschool programs shall be five thousand six hundred twenty-one dollars ($5,621).
(2) Commencing in the 2022–23 fiscal year, the standard reimbursement rates described in paragraph (1) shall be increased by the cost-of-living adjustment granted by the Legislature annually pursuant to Section 42238.15.
(c) (1) Commencing January 1, 2022, contractors who, as of December 31, 2021, received the standard reimbursement rate established in this section shall be reimbursed at the greater of the following:
(A) The 75th percentile of the 2018 regional market rate survey.
(B) The contract per-child reimbursement amount as of December 31, 2021, as increased by the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(2) Commencing July 1, 2022, subject to available funding, the department may issue temporary rate increases to contractors that exceed the rates specified in paragraph (1) and the reimbursement rate supplements described in Section 51 of Chapter 571 of the Statutes of 2022.
(3) In accordance with federal requirements for Child Care Stabilization Grants appropriated pursuant to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2), contractors shall provide information via a one-time application or survey in advance of receiving American Rescue Plan Act funds. The department shall specify the timeline and format in which this information shall be
submitted, and the information shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) Address, including ZIP Code.
(B) Race and ethnicity.
(C) Gender.
(D) Whether the provider is open and available to provide childcare services or closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
(E) What types of federal relief funds have been received from the state.
(F) Use of federal relief funds received.
(G) Documentation that the provider met certifications as required by federal law.
(4) Rate
increases shall be subject to federal usage limitations and federal and state program eligibility requirements.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (c), for the 2023–24 fiscal year and the 2024–25 fiscal year, the cost-of-living adjustment required pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall instead be zero.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that any adjustments in the 2023–24 fiscal year and the 2024–25 fiscal years related to reimbursement for programs funded pursuant to this section will be subject to a ratified agreement, and subject to future legislation providing for appropriations related to the budget bill.
(e) For a contract whose period of performance begins on and after July 1, 2025, the
contract reimbursement shall be based on the lesser of the following:
(1) The maximum reimbursable amount stated in the contract.
(2) Net reimbursable program costs.
(3) The product of the adjusted child days of enrollment for certified children times the contract rate set forth in this section.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to childcare.
