BILL NUMBER: SCR 44	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 26, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 8, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Corbett

                        MAY 6, 2009

   Relative to child care.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 44, as amended, Corbett. Child care.
   This measure would request the  State Department of
Education to hold an open meeting to review California's current
regional market rate methodology and implementation guidelines for
subsidized child care, and question whether adherence to the current
regional market rate system has resulted in sufficient access for
working poor families. The measure would also request that the
department hold an open meeting where all vested stakeholders are
fully versed in the methodology used for the regional market rate
survey. The measure would also request that the department 
 Legislature to hold one or more joint legislative hearings and
requests the State Department of Education to participate in the
hearing or hearings  , on or before April 1, 2010,  hold
an open meeting relating to the department's review of California's
current regional market rate methodology and implementation
guidelines, and any recommended changes to the current methodology
  to review California's current regional market rate
methodology and implementation guidelines for subsidized child care.
The bill would also request that all vested stakeholders be included
in the planning and implementation process being undertaken by the
department to establish new rates or a new rate structure  .
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, In 1990, the federal government began a major investment
in child care with the passage of the Child Care and Development
Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9858 et seq.); and
   WHEREAS, In 1996 CCDBG was expanded as part of federal welfare
reform legislation called the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PROWORA). At that time, the child
care funding component became known as the Child Care and Development
Fund (CCDF); and
   WHEREAS, A vital cornerstone of CCDF funding is parental choice.
Allowing families the ability to choose a child care environment that
best meets the needs of the child and the family is an integral part
of keeping children learning while parents are earning; and
   WHEREAS, The intent of both the federal and state child care
subsidy programs is to ensure that families have equal access to
child care providers who provide child care to nonsubsidized
families; and
   WHEREAS, The subsidized child care reimbursement system should be
based on the current regional market rates of child care providers
who provide care to private nonsubsidized families; and
   WHEREAS, California's child care provider reimbursement rate
should be updated no less than every two years in accordance with
requirements of the United States Department of Health and Human
Services and be included as part of California's State Plan; and
   WHEREAS, The methodology for the California regional market rate
survey was last approved in 2005. The methodology approved takes into
account 12 different variables including median home values, median
gross rent, median real estate taxes, and median household income;
and
   WHEREAS, The California economy has changed dramatically since the
methodology for the regional market rate was approved and these
changes may have an adverse impact on the upcoming regional market
rate survey; and
   WHEREAS, By the time California conducts and implements the market
rate survey, often it is already out-of-date; and
   WHEREAS, Families are disadvantaged with outdated rates that limit
the access to providers who are willing and able to provide quality
child care to subsidized children; and
   WHEREAS, The regulations that govern the implementation of the
California regional market rate ceilings can be administratively
burdensome and are in need of a more simplified process; and
   WHEREAS, The regional market rate development process has become
inadequate in providing a reasonable rate that affords families
access to high quality child care programs and does not always
represent the true cost of care; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature  intends to hold one or
more joint legislative hearings and  requests the State
Department of Education to  hold an open meeting 
 also participate in the joint legislative hearing or hearings
 to review California's current regional market rate methodology
and implementation guidelines,  and  question
whether adherence to the current regional market rate system has
resulted in sufficient access for working poor families  , and
execute any recommended changes to the current methodology ; and
be it further 
   Resolved, That the Legislature requests that the State Department
of Education hold an open meeting where all vested stakeholders are
fully versed in the methodology used for the regional market rate
survey; and be it further 
    
   Resolved, That the Legislature requests that the State Department
of Education, on or before April 1, 2010, hold an open meeting
relating to the department's review of California's current regional
market rate methodology and implementation guidelines, and any
recommended changes to the current methodology; and be it further


   RESOLVED,  That the Legislature requests that all vested
stakeholders be included in the planning and implementation process
being undertaken by the State Department of Education to establish
new rates or a new rate structure; and be it further 
   RESOLVED,  That the discussion items include, but not be
limited to, the regional market rate history, current methodology,
federal and state requirements, and the regulations and
implementation guidelines used to implement the regional market rate;
and be it further 
   RESOLVED,  That the joint legislative hearing or hearings take
place on or before April 1, 2010, so that any recommended changes to
the current regional market rate methodology can be considered in
budget negotiations; and be it further 
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.