BILL NUMBER: AB 765	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 765, as introduced, Ridley-Thomas. Child care and development:
reimbursement rates.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
implement a plan that establishes reasonable child care standards and
assigned reimbursement rates, as provided. Existing law requires the
standard reimbursement rate to be increased annually by a
cost-of-living adjustment, as provided.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
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 nine thousand
twenty-four dollars and seventy-five cents ($9,024.75) per unit of
average daily enrollment for a 250-day year, and commencing with the
2015-16 fiscal year, shall be increased by the cost-of-living
adjustment granted by the Legislature annually pursuant to Section
42238.15.
   (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) 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) Loss of program resources from other sources.
   (2) Need of an agency to pay the same child care rates as those
prevailing in the local community.
   (3) Increased costs directly attributable to new or different
regulations.
   (4)  (A)    Documented increased costs necessary
to maintain the prior year's level of service and ensure the
continuation of threatened programs. 
   Child 
    (B)     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.