SB 902: Early childhood education and childcare: electronic signatures.

Official summary

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

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, which includes various programs and services, including, among others, general childcare and development programs and migrant childcare and development programs.

Existing law, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), provides that a record or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form.

This bill would specify that a signature required by the Child Care and Development Services Act may be satisfied by use of an electronic signature in compliance with the UETA. The bill would authorize documents with an electronic signature to be created and stored in an electronic format in compliance with the UETA, and would authorize the department to adopt regulations to implement these provisions.

Existing law, the Early Education Act, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to, among other things, provide an inclusive and cost-effective preschool program. The Early Education Act and the Child Care and Development Services Act authorize contractors operating or providing services under the acts to use digital signatures that comply with state and federal standards, including specified state regulations.

This bill would instead condition the authority of contractors operating under the Early Education Act and the Child Care and Development Services Act to use an electronic signature on compliance with the UETA.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4 · Republican 5

“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 418, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 21, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 18, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5514.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 13, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 13, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6158.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 6, 2026Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
8. August 5, 2026From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
9. July 2, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 17, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on ED.
11. June 3, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
12. May 11, 2026Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.