Childcare.

Senator Arreguín's childcare legislation aims to expand access to California's subsidized childcare programs by adjusting income eligibility requirements and extending fee exemptions. The bill raises the income threshold for the third stage of childcare services from 70% to 85% of the state median income, aligning it with eligibility criteria for other childcare assistance programs.

The legislation doubles the maximum period that families with children receiving protective services or at risk of abuse can be exempt from childcare fees, extending it from 12 to 24 months. It also modifies attendance-based reimbursement rules for providers, allowing them to claim payment when children are absent for medical and educational appointments. Providers may now receive reimbursement for holding spaces during periods when families are presumed to have abandoned care or are appealing disenrollment decisions.

The bill restructures program administration by transitioning families from county welfare departments to institutions serving working families. While county welfare departments retain authority over existing cases, the legislation limits their role in administering third-stage childcare services going forward, except for families referred through child protective services. This administrative shift aims to integrate former aid recipients into mainstream childcare assistance channels used by other working families.