Early care and education.

The bill was expanded from a single-section budget placeholder into a multi-code amendment covering preschool program definitions, eligibility, enrollment priorities, staff training days, family fee payment structures, childcare licensing safety requirements, reimbursement rate reporting, and camp safety funding.

The definition of 'attendance' for reimbursement purposes was expanded to include excused absences during an appeal process related to expulsion or suspension (Section 8489.1), allowing providers to claim payment for those days.

Legislative intent added specifying that the reimbursement rate structure include enhanced inclusion rates administered as a per-child amount, and that the alternative methodology be based on a cost study and cost estimation model considering certain costs. Specific age groupings for the rate structure were also specified.

New enrollment priority sequence added, with the final priority being enrollment of any eligible child in income ranking order. Providers in areas where at least 80% of pupils qualify for free or reduced-price meals, are foster youth, or are English learners may enroll 3- and 4-year-olds per priorities, with remaining spots open to other families.

Staff safety training (pediatric first aid, CPR, preventive health) was reduced from requiring all staff at daycare centers and family daycare homes to only requiring at least one director or teacher at each center and each family daycare home licensee. This change sunsets on October 1, 2027, reverting to the original all-staff requirement.

Family daycare home presence requirements were relaxed: instead of requiring the licensee to be present during all hours of operation, the bill requires at least one licensee to be present. The substitute adult requirement now applies only when children are actually present, and the requirement to report temporary absences to the department was removed.

Staff training days (up to 5 per contract period) were expanded to cover additional topics including staff professional development requirements, and may be used as full or partial days. Training days during regular hours without children count toward minimum days of operation. Family childcare home providers using training days are paid based on maximum certified hours.

Family fee payment structure changed: contractors must pay family childcare providers for California state preschool program services without deducting family fees (while still collecting those fees from families), effective no later than January 1, 2027.

$1,000,000 reappropriated from social services funds for activities related to safety and regulation of children's camps, with the encumbrance period extended until June 30, 2027.

Quarterly reimbursement rate implementation reports extended from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028. The July 2027 report must include considerations for adding monthly cost of care plus rates to existing reimbursement rates for alternative payment programs.