NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Tuesday Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) introduced AB 2292 to expand capacity for infant and toddler care in California.

This bill will increase state rates for infant and toddler care, create a grant program to fund implementation and startup costs of new child care facilities, and establish a fund to recruit a new generation of family child care providers.

“Kids are our future. We should be doing everything in our power to help children and their parents thrive. AB 2292 will expand access to care for infants and toddlers, meaning parents now struggling to cobble together substandard care, or going without, can go to work confident that their children are supported and nurtured during the most critical developmental years in their lives,” said Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry.

“The choice seems pretty simple to me: support working families, and those trying to move into the workplace, or fail these children and have to support their families through the social safety net in other ways,” she added.

California currently has two subsidized child care programs to help families with financial need. These child care providers are paid through either 1) direct contracts with the California Department of Education (CDE) or 2) vouchers through the Alternative Payment Program (APP).

Direct contractors with CDE receive a standard reimbursement rate from the state for a fixed number of “slots,” while APP providers are funded through vouchers granted to eligible families.

The state’s current reimbursement rates to CDE contractors are exceptionally low and inadequate for the higher standard of care required for infants and toddlers.

This bill will address this problem by increasing the adjustment factors used in calculating reimbursements, so the appropriate level of funding is available.

In addition, AB 2292 will also create the “Classroom Planning and Implementation Grant Program” to provide one-time funds for providers opening up new child care facilities or converting existing classrooms to serve the zero- to three-year age group.

The superintendent of public instruction would administer the grant program and receive grant applications.

This bill will also expand the “Family Child Care Recruitment and Training Fund,” dedicating $6 million dollars over five years for targeted outreach, recruitment, training, supplies and resources for startup costs to recruit a new generation of family child care small business owners and professionals in California.
“I am excited to partner with First Five California, the Child Care and Development Administrators Association, and Child Care Resource Center on this important legislation and to continue my work to improve access to quality and affordable child care,” said Aguiar-Curry.

“Investing in infant and toddler care is proven to work on so many levels, fostering childhood development, helping parents find or keep jobs or receive job training, and actually saving State resources in the short and long term. We must not miss the opportunity to improve outcomes for kids and families, and to allow parents to trust that their children are in good hands,” she said.

AB 2292 expands upon the work done last year by Aguiar-Curry on a new law to ensure that parents participating in English as a Second Language and High School Equivalency courses can qualify for subsidized child care.

AB 273 was the first bill Aguiar-Curry introduced as a member of the Assembly.

Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake and Napa Counties, parts of Colusa County, all of Yolo County except West Sacramento, Dixon in Solano County and Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. Visit her Web site at www.asm.ca.gov/aguiar-curry.