(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to create a child care license that has individual program components that serve infant, toddler, preschool, and schoolage children. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department consider flexibility for child care providers, maximizing administrative efficiency, while supporting a continuum of services in a manner consistent with all respective health and safety requirements.
(b) The department, in consultation with stakeholders, shall adopt regulations on or before January 1, 2021, to create a child care center license to serve infant, toddler, preschool, and schoolage children with all respective health and safety requirements. Before January 1, 2024, all day care centers shall be licensed as child care centers pursuant to this section.
(c) The regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Components for serving infant, toddler, preschool, and schoolage children.
(2) Health and safety standards for children in care.
(3) Enhanced ability to transition children from one age group to the next.
(d) During the development and adoption of the regulations required by subdivision (b), the department shall consider best practices for continuity of care of the children and parents being served.
(e) The department may charge an applicant for a child care center license a fee commensurate with license fee schedules established for day care centers in Section 1596.803.
(f) The department may adopt emergency regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to implement this section.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 574, Sec. 2. (AB 605) Effective January 1, 2019.)