SB 120: Early childhood education and childcare.

Official summary

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

(1)Existing law, 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. Under the act, families that meet specified requirements are eligible for federal and state subsidized childcare and development services, and a family that establishes initial eligibility or ongoing eligibility for these services is considered to meet all eligibility and need requirements for those services for not less than 24 months, except as specified. Existing federal regulations require a minimum of 12 months of eligibility for these services before a redetermination of eligibility is made.

This bill would, if a family already receiving childcare services adds an additional child and requests services for that child during the current eligibility period, extend the family’s eligibility period, as necessary, to ensure that the additional child receives at least 12 months of eligibility for services before a redetermination of eligibility, as specified.

(2)Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to annually report to the Department of Finance and the Legislature a statewide summary identifying the estimated funding used in general childcare and development programs for infants and toddlers, and the number of preschool age children receiving part-day preschool and wraparound childcare services.

This bill would delete the requirement for that report to identify the number of preschool age children receiving part-day preschool and wraparound childcare services.

(3) Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs for childcare services to be provided throughout the state. Existing law requires an alternative payment program to reimburse a licensed childcare provider in accordance with a biennial market rate survey, as specified, at a rate not to exceed the regional market rate ceiling, as prescribed. Under existing law, reimbursements to childcare providers based upon a daily rate may only be allowed under certain circumstances, including that a family has an unscheduled but documented need of 6 hours or more per occurrence that exceeds the certified need for childcare or a family has a documented need of 6 hours or more per day that exceeds no more than 14 days per month.

This bill would reduce the documented need for reimbursements to childcare providers based upon a daily rate from 6 hours or more to 5 hours or more, as described.

Sponsors

“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. June 27, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 13, Statutes of 2025.
2. June 27, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. June 27, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. June 27, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 1813.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. June 27, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. June 27, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 69. Noes 1. Page 2320.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. June 27, 2025Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Ayes 69. Noes 12. Page 320.)
8. June 27, 2025Ordered to third reading.
9. June 27, 2025Withdrawn from committee pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
10. June 24, 2025From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET.
11. March 24, 2025Referred to Com. on BUDGET.
12. March 20, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.