AB 2429: Childcare: mental health consultation services.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, establishes a system of childcare and development services for children up to 13 years of age. The Early Education Act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to, among other things, provide an inclusive and cost-effective preschool program. Under both acts, the cost to a provider agency of providing an early childhood mental health consultation service is reimbursable if certain requirements are met, including that the consultation service uses a relationship-based model that includes specified components, including, among others, that, at least twice per program year, early care- and education setting-based mental health assessments are conducted and that there is, with the consent of parents or legal guardians, at least one screening of each enrolled child for adverse childhood experiences and screening for buffering factors.

This bill would remove the requirement that the consultation service use a relationship-based model that includes those components in order to be reimbursable and would instead require that, in order to be reimbursable, the consultation service, among other things, uses a relationship-based model that incorporates, at least once per school or program year, an early care and education classroom observation tool that includes measures on the classroom environment, social-emotional learning climate, and teacher and child interactions to guide the specific activities and support the consultant will provide.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 20, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 399, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 3, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 26, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6646.).
5. August 26, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 26, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
7. August 20, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 19, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 6, 2026Ordered to third reading.
10. August 6, 2026From Consent Calendar.
11. August 4, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
12. August 3, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.