CHAPTER 3.35. Child Care Provider Registration [1596.60. - 1596.68.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 3.35.
in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.60. Section 1596.60.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply: (a) “Ancillary day care center” means a day care center, as defined in Section 1596.76, that is associated with an athletic club, grocery store, or other business or group of businesses that is not required to be licensed pursuant to subdivision (k) of Section 1596.792 that provides a day care center that is ancillary to its principal business activity and that provides day care services, with or without a fee, for the children of the clients or customers of that business or group of businesses while the clients or customers are engaged in shopping for, or purchasing, goods or services from that business or group of businesses. (b) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services. (c) “Director” means the Director of Social Services. (d) “Professional supervised visitation monitor” means a person paid for providing supervised visitation services, or an independent contractor, employee, intern, or volunteer who is providing supervised visitation services and operating independently or through a supervised visitation center or agency. (e) “Trustline provider,” “license exempt child care provider,” or “provider” means a person 18 years of age or older who provides child care, supervision, or any person providing in-home educational or counseling services to a minor, and who is not required to be licensed pursuant to Section 1596.792. “Provider” also means a person who provides care or childcare supervision in an ancillary day care center other than the parent or guardian of the child receiving the care. “Trustline provider” or “provider” also means a professional supervised visitation provider, as described in Section 3200.5 of the Family Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.61. Section 1596.61.

(a) The department may charge a fee to a trustline applicant. The department may enter into an interagency agreement for the purpose of transferring funds to offset the costs incurred by the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to implement the trustline program pursuant to this chapter. (b) The maximum fee shall not exceed the total actual costs of all of the following: (1) The searches of the state summary criminal history information and the child abuse index performed by the Department of Justice. The cost to check the criminal history information shall not subsidize the cost to check the criminal history of other persons by the State Department of Social Services who are not charged a fee by the Department of Justice. (2) The cost incurred by the Department of Justice for the searches of the records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (3) The information and technical assistance provided by the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to parents, providers, and employment agencies. (4) The implementation by the local child care resource and referral programs of the trustline program. (5) The cost to the department to process the applications and maintain the trustline registry.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.62. Section 1596.62.

(a) (1) The Department of Justice shall maintain and continually update an index of reports of child abuse by, and pertinent criminal convictions of, providers and shall inform the department of subsequent reports received from the child abuse index pursuant to Section 11170 of the Penal Code and the criminal history. The department shall continually update the trustline registry pursuant to the actions required in Section 1596.607. (2) The trustline applicant and registered trustline provider shall inform the department of any new mailing address in writing within 10 days of the change in address. (b) The department shall provide the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network with a continually updated record of the trustline applicants, trustline applicants that the department denied, the registered trustline child care providers, and providers whose registration that the department revoked. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, including Part 3 (commencing with Section 900) of Division 3.6 of Title 1 of the Government Code, state officers or employees shall not be liable for any damages caused by their conduct pursuant to this chapter except for intentional acts or gross negligence. (d) On July 1, 1998, the Department of Justice shall transfer all trustline application and registration material to the department. The department shall be responsible for all pending applications and hearings and shall transfer all trustline application and registration information.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.64. Section 1596.64.

(a) The department shall enter into a contract with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to administer the trustline duties as described in this chapter. (b) The California Child Care Resources and Referral Network may subcontract with local resource and referral programs for the implementation of the trustline program at the local level. (c) Notwithstanding any other law: (1) Contracts or grants awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from the personal services contracting requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (2) Contracts or grants awarded pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from the Public Contract Code and the State Contracting Manual, and shall not be subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.65. Section 1596.65.

(a) An employment agency, as defined in Section 1812.501 of the Civil Code, that refers a child care provider to parents or guardians who are not required to be a licensed child day care facility shall not make a placement of a child care provider who is not a trustline applicant or a registered child care provider. (b) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100).

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.66. Section 1596.66.

(a) Each license-exempt childcare provider, as defined pursuant to Section 1596.60, who is compensated, in whole or in part, with funds provided pursuant to the Alternative Payment Program, Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10225) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or pursuant to the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Program, except a provider who is, by marriage, blood, or court decree, the grandparent, aunt, or uncle of the child in care, shall be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605 in order to be eligible to receive this compensation. Registration under this chapter shall be required for providers who receive funds under Section 9858 and following of Title 42 of the United States Code only to the extent permitted by that law and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Registration under this chapter shall be required for providers who receive funds under the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Program only to the extent permitted by that program and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (b) For the purposes of registration of the providers identified in subdivision (a), the following procedures shall apply: (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 1596.603, the provider shall submit the fingerprints and Trustline application to the local childcare resource and referral agency established pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10217) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The local childcare resource and referral agency shall transmit the fingerprints and completed Trustline applications to the department and address any local problems that occur in the registration system. If a fee is charged by the local childcare resource and referral agency that takes a provider’s fingerprints, the provider shall be reimbursed for this charge by the department, through the local childcare resource and referral agency, from federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds to the extent that those funds are available. (2) The department shall adhere to the requirements of Sections 1596.603, 1596.605, 1596.606, and 1596.607 and shall notify the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network of any action it takes pursuant to Sections 1596.605, 1596.606, and 1596.607. (3) The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network shall notify the applicable local childcare resource and referral agencies, alternative payment programs, and county welfare departments of the status of the Trustline applicants and registered Trustline childcare providers. The network shall maintain a toll-free telephone line to provide information to the local resource and referral agencies, the alternative payment programs, and the childcare recipients of the status of providers. (c) This section shall become operative only if funds appropriated for the purposes of this article from Item 6110-196-890 of Section 2 of the Budget Act of 1991 are incorporated into and approved as part of the state plan that is required pursuant to Section 658(E)(a) of the federal Child Care Block Grant Act of 1990 (Sec. 5082, P.L. 101-508).

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.67. Section 1596.67.

(a) To the extent permitted by federal law, each childcare provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who receives compensation, in whole or in part, under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient, except a provider who is, by marriage, blood, or court decree, the grandparent, aunt, or uncle of the child in care, shall be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605 in order to be eligible to receive this compensation. Active Trustline registration is required for providers who receive compensation under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient only to the extent permitted by that law and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. This section applies only to a license-exempt childcare provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who registers for payment under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient after the implementation of the Trustline registration system in those programs. A provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who was exempted from Trustline registration because the provider was not compensated, in whole or in part, with funds provided under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient shall be registered, at no cost to the provider, pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605 when either of the following occur: (1) The provider begins to provide childcare to an eligible family for which the provider has not provided care. (2) The provider begins to provide childcare to an eligible family subsequent to a lapse in providing care that is compensated under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient. (b) Payment provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall cease if the provider has a criminal conviction for which the department has not granted a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1596.871. (c) Subdivision (a) shall not be implemented unless funding for Trustline registration is appropriated to the department for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or in other legislation. The department shall enter into a contract with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to administer the Trustline as it relates to providers who are compensated under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.68. Section 1596.68.

(a) This chapter shall be operative on July 1, 1998. (b) (1) Before, on, or after July 1, 1998, the department may adopt regulations to implement this chapter. (2) The initial adoption of any emergency regulations for purposes of this chapter following January 1, 1998, shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.601. Section 1596.601.

Any child care provider who possesses any one of the following identification cards may initiate a background examination to be a trustline provider: (a) A valid California driver’s license. (b) A valid identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (c) A valid Permanent Resident Card. (d) In the case of a person living in a state other than California, a valid numbered photo identification card issued by an agency of the state other than California.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.603. Section 1596.603.

(a) Each person initiating a background examination to be a trustline provider shall either obtain two sets of fingerprints from a law enforcement agency or other local agency on a fingerprint card authorized by the Department of Justice and shall submit the fingerprints, or send his or her fingerprints to the Department of Justice by electronic transmission in a manner approved by the department, unless exempted in subdivision (e), and a completed trustline application to the department, or the local child care resource and referral agency which will immediately forward the application package to the department. The agency taking the fingerprints shall inscribe the serial number from the identification card described in Section 1596.601 on the fingerprint cards. (b) A law enforcement agency or other local agency authorized to take fingerprints may charge a reasonable fee to offset the costs of fingerprinting for the purposes of this chapter. (c) Upon receipt, the department shall transmit the fingerprint card and a copy of the application to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice shall use the fingerprints and the application to search the state and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history information pursuant to Section 1596.871 and the automated child abuse system pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1596.877. (d) A person who is a current licensee or employee in a facility licensed by the department need not submit fingerprints to the department and may transfer their criminal record clearance pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1596.871. The person shall instead submit to the department, along with the person’s application, a copy of the person’s identification card described in Section 1596.601 and sign a declaration verifying the person’s identity. A willful false declaration is a violation of this subdivision punishable in the same manner as provided under Section 1596.890.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.605. Section 1596.605.

(a) (1) The department shall establish a trustline registry pursuant to this chapter and shall continuously update the registry information. Upon submission of the trustline application and fingerprints or other identification documents pursuant to either subdivision (a) or (e) of Section 1596.603, the department shall enter into the trustline registry the provider’s name, identification card number, and an indicator that the provider has submitted an application and fingerprints or identification documentation. This provider shall be known as a “trustline applicant.” (2) A person shall not be entitled to apply to be a trustline provider and shall have his or her application returned without the right to appeal if the provider would not be eligible to obtain a child care license pursuant to Section 1596.851. (b) (1) Before approving the person’s application, the department shall check the individual criminal history pursuant to Section 1596.871 and against the child abuse index pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1596.877. Upon completion of the searches of the state summary criminal history information and the child abuse index, and, if applicable, the records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the department shall grant the trustline application if grounds do not exist for denial pursuant to Section 1596.607 and the department shall enter that finding in the provider’s record in the trustline registry and shall notify the provider of the action. This provider shall be known as a “registered trustline child care provider.” (2) The department may transfer the criminal record clearance granted to a registered trustline child care provider and hold the registered trustline child care provider’s criminal record clearance in its active files pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1596.871.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.607. Section 1596.607.

(a) (1) If the department finds that the trustline applicant has been convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation, the department shall deny the application, unless the department grants an exemption pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1596.871. (2) If the department finds that the trustline applicant has an arrest as described in subdivision (a) of Section 1596.871, the department may deny the application if the trustline applicant may pose a risk to the health and safety of any person who is or may become a client and the department complies with subdivision (e) of Section 1596.871. (3) The department shall comply with the requirements of Section 1596.877 and may deny the application of a trustline applicant for substantiated child abuse that may pose a threat to the health and safety of any person who is or may become a client. (4) The department may deny the application for registration of the trustline applicant if it discovers that the department or a county had previously revoked or rescinded a license or certificate to be a certified family home or resource family held by the trustline applicant or excluded the trustline applicant from a licensed facility, certified family home, or resource family home. (5) The department may deny the application for registration of the trustline applicant if it discovers that the department or a county had previously denied the trustline applicant’s application for a license from the department or certificate to be a certified family home or resource family. (b) (1) If, the department denies registration pursuant to subdivision (a), it shall advise the provider of the right to appeal. The provider shall have 15 days to appeal the denial. (2) Upon receipt by the department of the appeal, the appeal shall be set for hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1596.887.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.608. Section 1596.608.

(a) (1) The department may revoke a provider’s trustline registration for any of the following: (A) Procuring trustline registration by fraud or misrepresentation. (B) Knowingly making or giving any false statement or information in conjunction with the application for issuance of trustline registration. (C) Criminal conviction unless an exemption is granted pursuant to Section 1596.871. (D) Incident of child abuse or neglect or other conduct that poses a threat to the health and safety of any person who is or may become a client. (2) The hearing to revoke the trustline registration shall be conducted in accordance with Section 1596.887. (b) The trustline provider’s registration shall be considered forfeited under the following conditions: (1) The trustline provider has had a license or certificate of approval revoked, suspended, or denied as authorized under Section 1534, 1550, 1568.082, 1569.50, or 1596.885. (2) The trustline provider has been denied employment, residence, or presence in a facility based on action resulting from an administrative hearing pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or 1596.8897. (3) The trustline provider fails to maintain a current mailing address with the department.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.615. Section 1596.615.

All moneys collected by the department to implement this chapter shall, notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, be continuously appropriated to the department without regard to fiscal year for expenditure pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.616. Section 1596.616.

Notwithstanding Section 1596.61, the department shall charge a fee to each trustline applicant who provides care in an ancillary day care center, that is equal to and does not exceed the total amount required by the department to process applications and maintain the trustline registry for these providers.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.643. Section 1596.643.

(a) The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Establish and maintain a toll-free line to allow parents, employment agencies, child care referral groups and registries, alternative payment programs, and others to determine if a provider is a trustline applicant or a registered trustline child care provider. (2) Develop a statewide promotion plan, publicize statewide existence, benefits, and methods of accessing the trustline for both parents and providers, and distribute trustline applications statewide. (3) Monitor and provide assistance to the child care resource and referral agencies in carrying out their trustline responsibilities. (4) Seek private financial support for the trustline. (5) Ensure that the trustline is accessible to all persons in the state, regardless of their ability to speak English. (b) Officers or employees of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network shall not be liable for any injury caused by their conduct pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), except for intentional conduct or gross negligence.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.645. Section 1596.645.

The California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, in consultation with representatives of private industry, parents, childcare resource and referral agencies, the department, trustline providers, employment agencies, and the pediatric health sector, shall review and make recommendations concerning the operation of the trustline. This review shall include a consideration of strategies for reducing the processing time for trustline application denials, and to the extent possible, an evaluation of, or proposed methodology for measuring, whether those childcare providers for whom trustline applications are denied are still providing care when denial letters are sent to them.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.653. Section 1596.653.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect the well-being of California children by regulating private individuals and companies that transport or accompany minors to out-of-state residential facilities or institutions. (b) As used in this section: (1) “Transport escort service” means any person, partnership, association, or corporation that accepts financial compensation or other consideration to accompany or transport minors who are residents of California to any residential facility or institution located outside the state. (2) “Minor” means any person under the age of 18 years. (3) “Department” means the State Department of Social Services. (c) Every transport escort service that accompanies or transports a minor who is a resident of California to any residential facility or institution located outside the state, shall first provide the minor’s parents, custodial parent, or legal guardian with all of the following: (1) A description of the child care provider trustline registry established pursuant to this chapter that provides criminal history checks on child care providers. (2) An explanation of how a parent may obtain more information about the child care provider trustline registry. (3) A statement that a transport escort service is prohibited by law from transporting or accompanying a minor unless the person or persons transporting the minor are trustline registered child care providers. (4) An explanation of how the parent may verify the trustline registration of the transport escort service. (5) An explanation of the minor’s right to make a complaint to a child protective agency concerning abusive treatment by the transport escort service. (d) A transport escort service shall not transport or accompany a minor without obtaining the written permission of the minor’s parents, custodial parent, or legal guardian. (e) The transport escort service shall verify in writing that the minor’s parents, custodial parent, or legal guardian has received the information required under subdivision (c). (f) A transport escort service shall not accompany or transport a minor to any residential facility or institution located outside the state, unless the person or persons transporting or accompanying the minor are trustline registered child care providers. (g) A minor, parent, or legal guardian claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of this section by a transport escort service may bring a civil action for injunctive relief or damages, or both. (h) In addition to the remedy provided in subdivision (g), a violation of this section may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) as to each person with respect to whom a violation occurs, or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months. (i) This section does not apply to the following: (1) The transport of minors by any governmental agency or employee. (2) The transport of minors under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. (3) The transport of minors by family members or relatives. (j) Nothing in this section shall limit any claim for damages or the issuance of any injunction that a parent or child may assert against a transport escort service pursuant to any other state or federal law or regulation.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.655. Section 1596.655.

A childcare resource and referral agency established pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10217) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall have the following responsibilities in the administration of the trustline within its local geographic area of service: (a) Implement the local elements of the promotion plan designed by the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network pursuant to Section 1596.643 and publicize the availability, purpose, and benefits of the trustline to parents, childcare providers, prospective childcare providers, and institutions and agencies that have frequent contact with parents and providers. (b) Cooperate with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network in promotional and data collection efforts. (c) Report annually to the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network on local promotional efforts, problems encountered, and recommendations for program improvement. (d) Ensure that the trustline is accessible to all persons in the state, regardless of their ability to speak English. (e) Provide information and technical assistance on the trustline process to parents, childcare providers, and other interested parties.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.656. Section 1596.656.

(a) A person 18 years of age or older, who provides child care or child care supervision in an ancillary day care center, as defined in Section 1596.60, shall be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a person under 18 years of age from being employed in an ancillary day care center. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a person 18 years of age or older is denied trustline registration by the department pursuant to Section 1596.605 or 1596.607, or if the department revokes a person’s trustline registration pursuant to Section 1596.608, that person shall be ineligible for employment in a position providing child care or child care supervision in an ancillary day care center. (c) If an existing employee providing child care or child care supervision in an ancillary day care center, or a prospective employee seeking employment in a position that provides child care or child care supervision in an ancillary day care center, submits an application to the department to become a registered trustline child care provider, that existing or prospective employee shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section and permitted to work in a position providing child care or child care supervision pending the department’s review of his or her trustline application. The existing or prospective employee shall become ineligible for employment providing child care or child care supervision in an ancillary day care center if the department denies his or her trustline application and any right to appeal the department’s denial has been exhausted or has expired. (d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2011.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.657. Section 1596.657.

Pursuant to Section 3200.5 of the Family Code, a professional supervised visitation provider, as described in that section, shall, beginning January 1, 2021, be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1596.671. Section 1596.671.

(a) To the extent required by federal law, each license-exempt childcare provider, as defined in Section 1596.60, who receives compensation, in whole or in part, under the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children established pursuant to Section 11461.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605. Registration shall be at no cost to the provider, and payment of the cost shall be consistent with county policies and procedures for payment of the cost for childcare providers who receive compensation under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program and who register with Trustline pursuant to Section 1596.67. (b) Payment provided to a license-exempt childcare provider pursuant to Section 11461.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall cease if the provider has a criminal conviction for which the department has not granted a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1596.871. (c) Subdivision (a) shall not be implemented unless funding for Trustline registration is appropriated to the department for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or in other legislation.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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