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 that offer a full range of services to eligible children from infancy to 13 years of age, inclusive. Existing law designates the department as the single state agency responsible for the promotion, development, and provision of care of children in the absence of their parents during the workday. Existing law defines "workday" for purposes of the act to mean the time that a parent requires temporary care for a child for specified reasons, including to undertake training in preparation for a job or to undertake or retain a job.
This bill would revise "workday" to additionally include the time that a parent requires temporary care for a child to search for a job, provide care for oneself during a pregnancy-related leave from work, or provide care for a family member during a period of paid family leave. The bill would also additionally define "parental incapacity" to mean the temporary or permanent inability of a child's parent or parents to provide care and supervision of the child for any part of the day, including due to specified leaves.
Existing law requires that parents meet at least one specified requirement in specified areas, including that they are a current aid recipient, income eligible, and the family needs the childcare services because the parents are engaged in vocational training or incapacitated.
The bill would additionally include that a family may be eligible for services if a parent is on pregnancy or family leave. The bill would additionally authorize a parent to sign an attestation form stating that they are on leave and that being on leave does not require a medical incapacity form. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
AB 904: 10227.6 WIC
02/19/25 - Introduced: 10227.6 WIC
03/24/25 - Amended Assembly: 10213.5 WIC, 10213.5 WIC, 10227.6 WIC
04/22/25 - Amended Assembly: 10213.5 WIC, 10271 WIC, 10271 WIC