BILL NUMBER: AB 598	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Rendon

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to amend Sections 8245 and 8246 of, to add Section 8248 to,
and to repeal Section 8247 of, the Education Code, relating to child
care.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 598, as introduced, Rendon. Child care: family child care home
education networks.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
contract with entities organized to operate family child care home
education networks that support educational objectives for children
in licensed family child care homes that serve families eligible for
subsidized care. Existing law requires the family child care home
education network programs to include certain things, including an
assessment of each family child care home provider to ensure that
services are of high quality and are educationally and
developmentally appropriate. Existing law also requires each family
child care home education network to do certain things, including
assess the educational quality of the program offered in each family
child care home in the network.
   This bill would require that tools used to make these assessments
be appropriate to family child care home settings.
   Existing law provides that the above laws do not impose any new
requirements on a family child care home education network nor does
it require any increase in reimbursement rates.
   This bill would delete this law.
   This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to
provide consistency in the implementation and administration of
family child care home education network programs, as provided.
   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 8245 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   8245.  (a) The  Superintendent of Public Instruction,
  Superintendent,  with funds appropriated for this
purpose, shall contract with entities organized under law to operate
family child care home education networks that support educational
objectives for children in licensed family child care homes that
serve families eligible for subsidized child care.
   (b) Family child care home education network programs shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
   (1) Age and developmentally appropriate activities for children.
   (2) Care and supervision of children.
   (3) Parenting education.
   (4) Identification of child and family social or health needs and
referral of the child or the family to the appropriate social or
health services.
   (5) Nutrition.
   (6) Training and support for the family child care home education
network's family home providers and staff.
   (7) Assessment of each family child care home provider to ensure
that services are of high quality and are educationally and
developmentally appropriate.  Tools   used to make an
assessment shall be appropriate to family child care home settings.

   (8) Developmental profiles for children enrolled in the program.
   (9) Parent involvement.
  SEC. 2.  Section 8246 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   8246.  Each family child care home education network contractor,
in addition to the requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of
Section 8245, shall do all of the following:
   (a) Recruit, enroll, and certify eligible families.
   (b) Recruit, train, support, and reimburse licensed family home
providers.
   (c) Collect family fees in accordance with contract requirements.
   (d) Assess, according to standards set by the department, the
educational quality of the program offered in each family child care
home in the network  using assessment tools that are appropriate
to family child care home settings  .
   (e) Assure that a developmental profile is completed for each
child based upon observations of network staff, in consultation with
the provider.
   (f) Monitor requirements, including quality standards, and conduct
periodic assessments of program quality in each family child care
home affiliated with the network.
   (g) Ensure that basic health and nutrition requirements are met.
   (h) Provide data and reporting in accordance with contract
requirements.
  SEC. 3.  Section 8247 of the Education Code is repealed. 
   8247.  This article does not impose any new requirement on a
family child care home education network, nor does this article
require any increase in reimbursement rates. This article does not
require the department to modify its contracting procedure that was
in effect for a family child care home education network prior to
January 1, 2005. 
  SEC. 4.  Section 8248 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   8248.  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide consistency
in the implementation and administration of family child care home
education network programs that acknowledge the higher standards met
by participating family child care providers, the need for a
reimbursement differential above their regional market rate, and
technical assistance, training, assessment, coaching, and other
supporting services offered by family child care home education
network contractors.