Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, establishes a system of childcare and development services for children up to 13 years of age, which includes various programs and services, including, among others, CalWORKs Stage 2 and Stage 3 childcare, migrant childcare, childcare and development services for children with special needs, the alternative payment program, and Head Start programs. Under existing law, for purposes of establishing initial income eligibility for services under the Child Care and Development Services Act, "income eligible" means that a family's adjusted monthly income is at or below 85% of the state median income, adjusted for family size. Existing law requires, to be eligible for the third stage of childcare services, CalWORKS participants to have an income that does not exceed 70% of the state median income, adjusted for family size, as specified.
This bill would revise the income eligibility for the third stage of childcare services to also be 85% of the state median income, adjusted for family size.