BILL NUMBER: AB 2125	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

   An act to amend Section 8265 of the Education Code, relating to
child care.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2125, as introduced, Ridley-Thomas. Child care: standard
reimbursement rate: adjustment.
   Existing law establishes a system of child care and development
services for children from infancy to 13 years of age and provides
certain requirements for the payment by the state for these child
care and development services. Existing law requires the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to implement a plan that
establishes reasonable standards and assigned reimbursement rates, as
provided, and requires the standard reimbursement rate to be $3,523
per unit of average daily enrollment for a 250-day year, increased by
the cost-of-living adjustment granted by the Legislature.
   This bill would add an authorization to adjust that standard
reimbursement rate to provide adequate compensation for education and
training.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 8265 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   8265.  (a) The Superintendent shall implement a plan that
establishes reasonable standards and assigned reimbursement rates,
which vary with the length of the program year and the hours of
service.
   (1) Parent fees shall be used to pay reasonable and necessary
costs for providing additional services.
   (2) When establishing standards and assigned reimbursement rates,
the Superintendent shall confer with applicant agencies.
   (3) The reimbursement system, including standards and rates, shall
be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
   (4) The Superintendent may establish any regulations he or she
deems advisable concerning conditions of service and hours of
enrollment for children in the programs.
   (b) The standard reimbursement rate shall be three thousand five
hundred twenty-three dollars ($3,523) per unit of average daily
enrollment for a 250-day year, increased by the cost-of-living
adjustment granted by the Legislature beginning July 1, 1980  ,
or as adjusted to provide adequate compensation for education and
training  .
   (c) The plan shall require agencies having an assigned
reimbursement rate above the current year standard reimbursement rate
to reduce costs on an incremental basis to achieve the standard
reimbursement rate.
   (d)  (1)    The plan shall provide for adjusting
reimbursement on a case-by-case basis, in order to maintain service
levels for agencies currently at a rate less than the standard
reimbursement rate. Assigned reimbursement rates shall be increased
only on the basis of one or more of the following: 
   (1) 
    (A)  Loss of program resources from other sources.

   (2) 
    (B)  Need of an agency to pay the same child care rates
as those prevailing in the local community. 
   (3) 
    (C)  Increased costs directly attributable to new or
different regulations. 
   (4) 
    (D)  Documented increased costs necessary to maintain
the prior year's level of service and ensure the continuation of
threatened programs. 
    Child 
    (2)     Child  care agencies funded at
the lowest rates shall be given first priority for increases.
   (e) The plan shall provide for expansion of child development
programs at no more than the standard reimbursement rate for that
fiscal year.
   (f) The Superintendent may reduce the percentage of reduction for
a public agency that satisfies any of the following:
   (1) Serves more than 400 children.
   (2) Has in effect a collective bargaining agreement.
   (3) Has other extenuating circumstances that apply, as determined
by the Superintendent.