California Assembly Bill 2258
Session 20252026
Early childhood education and childcare: alternative payment programs.
Introduced
Introduced in Assembly on Feb 19, 2026
Sponsor
Ávila Farías
First Action
Feb 19, 2026
Latest Action
Apr 23, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
2258
State
California
Session
20252026
Ávila Farías
grade
Author
checkPassed on April 23, 2026
Motion Text
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Roll Call Votes
Yes
Other
Summary
Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, requires the department to administer childcare and development programs, including, among others, general childcare and development, migrant childcare and development, and alternative payment programs, that offer a full range of services to eligible children from infancy to 13 years of age, inclusive. Existing law requires the department to contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs for childcare services to be provided throughout the state. Existing law then requires alternative payment programs to reimburse childcare providers for providing childcare to eligible children.
Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law provides for state-subsidized childcare programs and childcare for recipients of benefits under the CalWORKs program and establishes 3 stages of childcare services managed by county welfare departments and agencies contracting with the State Department of Social Services.
This bill would require the department to, no less than quarterly, identify unspent or projected unexpended moneys from subsidized childcare and development programs, as specified. The bill would require the department, to the maximum extent permitted by federal and state law, to redirect and deposit the unspent or unexpended moneys identified to the Alternative Payment Program Enrollment Fund, as established by the bill. The bill would continuously appropriate all moneys in the fund to the department for the purpose of enrolling additional eligible families in alternative payment programs. By authorizing existing appropriated moneys to be used for a new purpose, and by creating a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
02/19/26 - Introduced
February 19, 2026
03/19/26 - Amended Assembly
March 19, 2026
04/07/26 - Amended Assembly
April 7, 2026
04/14/26 - Amended Assembly
April 14, 2026
04/21/26- Assembly Human Services
April 21, 2026
Sort by most recent
04/23/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/15/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
04/14/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
04/14/2026
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
04/08/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
04/07/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
03/23/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
03/19/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
03/19/2026
Assembly
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
02/20/2026
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
02/19/2026
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 20, 2026 8:51:19 AM
Record Updated
Apr 24, 2026 8:51:05 AM