BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
John Vasconcellos, Chair
2003-2004 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 379
AUTHOR: Mullin
AMENDED: May 27, 2004
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 9, 2004
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Tanya Lieberman
NOTE : This bill has been referred to the Committees on
Education and Health and Human Services. Any "do pass"
motion on this bill should include a referral to the
Committee on Health and Human Services.
SUBJECT : Family child care home education networks
(Networks)
SUMMARY
This bill defines a Network and requires that these
entities support educational objectives for children in
home-based child care programs that serve families eligible
for subsidized child care.
BACKGROUND
Family child care home education networks are not currently
defined in state law. The State Department of Education
(SDE) has contracted with Networks for over 30 years to
recruit licensed family home providers to provide care,
place children with providers, ensure children receive an
appropriate education program, provide training for both
parents and providers, collect parent co-pays, and collect
invoices from providers, among other responsibilities. In
2001-02 more than 5,000 children were served by Networks
through 32 agencies.
ANALYSIS
This bill:
1) Defines a Network as a local education or governmental
agency or non-profit that contracts with SDE to make
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payments to family child care home providers and
provides education and support services to parents and
providers that serve state-subsidized families. Also
states that a Network may also be referred to as a
family child care home system.
2) Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to contract with Networks that support
educational objectives for children in licensed family
day care homes that serve families eligible for
subsidized child care.
3) Requires Network programs to include at least the
following:
a) Age and developmentally appropriate
activities for children.
b) Care and supervision of children.
c) Parenting education and parental
involvement.
d) Social services, including the
identification of child and family needs and
referral to appropriate agencies.
e) Health services including referrals.
f) Nutrition.
g) Training and support for Network providers
and staff.
h) Assessment of each provider to ensure that
services are of high quality and educationally
and developmentally appropriate.
i) Developmental profiles of children.
4) Requires Network contractors to:
a) Recruit, enroll, and certify eligible
families.
b) Recruit, train, support, and reimburse
licensed family home providers.
c) Collect family fees.
d) Assess the educational quality of the
programs offered, pursuant to requirements to be
established by the SDE.
e) Monitor requirements and conduct periodic
assessments.
f) Ensure that basic health and nutrition
requirements are met.
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g) Provide data and reporting in accordance
with contract requirements.
h) Establish a written policy that describes
the relationship between the Network and each
provider including the establishment of rates and
the conditions that determine whether the
provider is an independent contractor or is an
employee of the Network.
5) States that the act does not impose any new
requirement on a Network that entered into an
agreement with the SDE on or before January 1, 2005,
and does not require any increases in reimbursement
rates under that contract. Also states that the act
does not require the SDE to modify its contracting
procedure that was in effect prior to January 1, 2005.
STAFF COMMENTS
This bill is intended to codify existing practice. The
author states that this bill codifies existing practice,
and does not impose any new requirements on Networks or the
SDE.
SUPPORT
California Child Development Administrators Association
OPPOSITION
None received