CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 393

Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 02, 2021

An act to amend Section 10202 of, and to add Section 10206.5 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to childcare, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 393, as introduced, Reyes. Early Childhood Development Act of 2020.
The Early Childhood Development Act of 2020 sets forth legislative findings and declarations regarding the need for an integrated early childhood learning and care system to promote high-quality, affordable learning to comprehensively and effectively serve children and families and to address societal inequities and disproportionalities.
This bill would make additional legislative findings and declarations regarding childcare supportive services. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to report on various topics related to early childhood supports in light of the COVID-19 pandemic by October 1, 2021.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 10202 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

10202.
 The Legislature finds and declares both all of the following:
(a) The state’s system of early learning and care must become more integrated and coordinated to achieve its goals of promoting a high-quality, affordable, early childhood system designed to comprehensively and effectively serve children and families.
(b) Social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences, quality learning and care for children, and economic and other supports for the needs of families are critical determinants of life outcomes for children, and California’s system of early learning and care must address inequities and disproportionalities.
(c) The comprehensive needs of families should be a top priority.
(d) The voices of parents and providers should directly inform how the priority is applied to the structure of childcare supportive services as a result of the transition of programs.

SEC. 2.

 Section 10206.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

10206.5.
 The department shall conduct an evaluation of the emergency supports provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare recommendations for ongoing and future emergency support services. The department shall prepare and submit to the Legislature, in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on or before October 1, 2021, a report regarding the findings and recommendations of the department. The report shall include both of the following:
(a) The department’s response to the following needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
(1) How the department met the need for ongoing COVID-19 testing, masks, and personal protection equipment supplies.
(2) How the department provided support for necessary cleaning for childcare service centers and related logistical support.
(3) How the department determined priority for vaccinations and the logistics for providing and prioritizing related support.
(4) How the department determined whether there were adequate paid days of closure for family childcare homes.
(b) The department’s evaluation and recommendations on the following topics:
(1) How to address the availability of crisis childcare service slots.
(2) How to best implement and expand the existing Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children.
(3) Identify ongoing services and resources necessary to ensure sufficient emergency childcare options and supportive services.

SEC. 3.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to facilitate the immediate evaluation of the department’s assistance, and the ongoing need for emergency childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary that this act go into effect immediately.