CHAPTER 3. Alternative Payment Programs [10225. - 10234.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 3.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10225. Section 10225.

(a) Upon the approval of the department, funds appropriated for the purposes of this chapter may be used for alternative payment programs to allow for maximum parental choice. Various methods of reimbursement for parental costs for child care may be utilized. All payment arrangements shall conform to the eligibility criteria and the parent fee schedule established pursuant to Sections 10271 and 10280. (b) To provide for maximum parental choice, alternative payment programs may include the following: (1) A subsidy that follows the family from one provider to another within a given alternative payment program. (2) Choices, whenever possible, among hours of service including before and after school, evenings, weekends, and split shifts. (3) Child care and development services according to parental choice, including use of family child care homes, general center based programs, and other state-funded programs to the extent that those programs exist in the general service area and are in conformity with the purposes and applicable laws for which those programs were established, but excluding state preschool programs.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10225.5. Section 10225.5.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that: (1) Working families be supported with maximum access to child care and development programs that focus on stabilizing families and helping children realize greater education outcomes. (2) Working families have access to the supportive services needed to ensure the healthy physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development of children. (3) The department, in providing funding to child care and development agencies, promote a contracting term for services that will allow parents the opportunity to choose the type of care most suited to their needs. (4) Working families achieve and maintain their personal, social, economic, and emotional stability through an opportunity to attain financial stability through employment and parental development while maximizing the growth and development of their children, and through enhancing their parenting skills through participation in child care and development programs. (b) The department shall contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs so that services will be provided throughout the state. The department shall expand existing alternative payment programs and fund new alternative payment programs to the extent that funds are provided by the Legislature. (c) Funding for the new programs pursuant to this section shall be allocated to programs that meet all of the following requirements: (1) Applicants shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. (2) Applicants shall demonstrate that an alternative payment child development program is an appropriate method of delivering child care services within the county or service area at the level requested in the application by doing either of the following: (A) Demonstrating the availability of sufficient licensed or exempt child care providers. (B) Providing a plan for the development of sufficient licensed child care providers working in cooperation with the local resource and referral agency. (3) Applicants shall demonstrate the administrative viability of the alternative payment agency and its capacity to meet performance requirements. (4) Existing alternative payment child development programs receiving funds for expansion into a new service area shall be funded at a documented rate appropriate to that community and may contract separately as appropriate. (d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), an alternative payment program shall have no less than 12 months, and no more than 24 months, to expend funds allocated to that program in any fiscal year. (2) The department shall develop a process that provides alternative payment programs no less than 12 months, and no more than 24 months, to expend funds allocated to that program in any fiscal year. (3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to contracts relating to the administration of child care services described in Sections 10372 and 10372.5.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10226. Section 10226.

(a) Alternative payment programs shall serve an identifiable geographic area approved by the department. The service area may be delineated by jurisdictional city or county boundaries, by natural geographic barriers, streets, roads, or zip codes. (b) In the appropriation of expansion funds allocated in this section and in Assembly Bill 55 of the 1985–86 Regular Session of the Legislature, first priority shall be given to develop the alternative payment programs in unserved areas of the state. (c) Second priority shall be given to expand current alternative payment programs. The department shall reserve funds to ensure that at least 50 percent of the moneys allotted for the alternative payment program in both Assembly Bill 55 of the 1985–86 Regular Session of the Legislature and this section shall be used to fund this second priority.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10226.5. Section 10226.5.

To offer maximum support for parents and providers, alternative payment programs shall have access to resource and referral services. Funding shall be adequate to purchase care at the fee charged the private client for the same service as well as to provide locally designed support services for parents and providers. In communities where there are no resource and referral agencies, alternative payment programs shall provide the following support services: (a) Information for parents to assist them in making informed choices. (b) Professional and technical assistance and information for providers. (c) Parenting information.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10227. Section 10227.

Alternative payments may be made for services provided in licensed centers and family child care homes, for care provided in the child’s home, and for other types of care which conform to applicable law.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10227.5. Section 10227.5.

(a) Childcare providers authorized to provide services pursuant to this chapter shall submit to the alternative payment program a monthly attendance record or invoice for each child who received services that, at a minimum, documents the dates and actual times care was provided each day, including the time the child entered and the time the child left care each day. The information shall be documented on a daily basis. (b) (1) The monthly attendance record or invoice shall, at a minimum, be signed by the parent or guardian of the child receiving services and the childcare provider once per month to attest that the child’s attendance is accurately reflected. The verification of attendance shall be made by signature at the end of each month of care and under penalty of perjury by both the parent or guardian of the child receiving services and the childcare provider. (2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 10277, a childcare provider may submit a monthly attendance record or invoice without a parent’s signature when the parent has not communicated with the provider for a minimum of seven consecutive days, the provider has notified the contractor of the parent’s lack of communication in accordance with Section 18066.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, and the contractor has documented the provider’s unsuccessful attempts to collect a signature. (B) If the provisions of this paragraph are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 10426, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature. (c) The monthly attendance record or invoice shall be maintained by the childcare provider in the unaltered original format in which it was created, which may be in paper form or electronic format. (d) (1) The alternative payment program shall accept the monthly attendance record or invoice as documentation of the hours of care provided if the attendance record or invoice includes adequate information documented on a daily basis, including, at a minimum, the dates and actual times care was provided each day, including the time the child entered and the time the child left care each day. (2) Except as described in paragraph (3), the alternative payment program shall reimburse childcare providers based upon the following criteria: (A) The hours of service provided that are broadly consistent with certified hours of need. (B) For families with variable schedules, the actual days and hours of attendance, up to the maximum certified hours. (C) For license-exempt providers that provide part-time services, the actual days and hours of attendance, up to the maximum certified hours. (3) Effective July 1, 2025, and to July 1, 2028, inclusive, reimbursement of state-subsidized childcare and development providers, including licensed daycare centers, as defined in Section 1596.76 of the Health and Safety Code, licensed family daycare homes, as defined in Section 1596.78 of the Health and Safety Code, and license-exempt providers, that serve children through alternative payment programs, including migrant alternative payment programs pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10225), family childcare home education networks pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10250), or the CalWORKs Stage 1, Stage 2, or Stage 3 programs pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370), or the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children pursuant to Section 11461.6, shall be based on families’ certified need, as follows: (A) Providers shall be reimbursed based on the maximum authorized hours of care, regardless of attendance. (B) For families certified for a variable schedule, providers shall be reimbursed based on the maximum authorized hours of care. (C) For license-exempt providers that provide part-time services, providers shall be reimbursed based on the maximum authorized hours of care. (e) For purposes of reimbursement to providers through an alternative payment program, contractors shall not be required to track absences. (f) For purposes of this section, a monthly attendance record or invoice is defined as documentation that includes, at a minimum, the name of the child receiving services, the dates and actual times care was provided each day, including the time the child entered and the time the child left care each day, that is signed under penalty of perjury by both the parent or guardian and the childcare provider, attesting that the information provided is accurate. (g) For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the sum of eighty-eight million five hundred fifty thousand dollars ($88,550,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services for the purpose of reimbursement based on families’ certified need as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (d). These funds shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2026. (h) If subdivision (d) is in conflict with a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 10426, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if the provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10227.6. Section 10227.6.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to use an alternative methodology, as defined in subdivision (ak) of Section 10213.5, to inform the setting of reimbursement rates for subsidized childcare. (b) Reimbursement rates are subject to agreement and codification by the Legislature. (c) The department, in collaboration with the State Department of Education, shall develop and conduct an alternative methodology. The department shall begin the process of data collection and analysis pursuant to developing an alternative methodology by July 1, 2023, and consult with the State Department of Education on data collection, analysis, and methodology for preschool programs. The alternative methodology shall build on the recommendations of the working group established pursuant to Section 10280.2 and shall be aligned with the recommendations of the Joint Labor Management Committee established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10280.2. (d) No later than February 15, 2024, the department, in collaboration with the State Department of Education and the Joint Labor Management Committee established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10280.2, using information from the cost estimation model, shall define elements of the base rate and any enhanced rates to inform the state’s proposed single rate structure and rates. These elements shall be subject to the mandated public engagement state plan process and legislative review. The department shall report to the Senate Health and Human Services budget subcommittees, Assembly and Senate Education budget subcommittees, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office on progress made to conduct an alternative methodology and cost estimate model. (e) No later than May 15, 2024, the department shall report on the status of the draft Child Care and Development Fund state plan to the Senate Health and Human Services budget subcommittees, Assembly and Senate Education budget subcommittees, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office on the state’s proposed single rate structure to be submitted to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (f) No later than July 1, 2024, the department shall submit necessary information to support use of a single rate structure using the alternative methodology to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families in the Child Care and Development Fund state plan or an amendment to the state plan. The department shall provide a copy of the Child Care and Development Fund state plan or amendment to the state plan submitted to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families to the Senate Health and Human Services budget subcommittees, Assembly and Senate Education budget subcommittees, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office no later than July 10, 2024. (g) (1) Within 60 days of federal approval of the single rate structure utilizing the alternative methodology in the state plan, the department, in collaboration with the State Department of Education, shall provide the Assembly Committee on Budget, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office with a report that outlines the implementation components for the approved single rate structure. For a period of 30 days, the Legislature shall have the opportunity to review and provide feedback regarding draft guidance for implementation of policies. The report shall include all of the following: (A) The department’s plan to set new reimbursement rates under the alternative methodology by no later than July 1, 2025. (B) The estimated costs and estimated timelines associated with the implementation components of the approved single rate structure, including, but not limited to, state operations resources, technology and infrastructure changes, and any regulatory or statutory changes necessary to implement the approved single rate structure. (2) The department shall, from October 1, 2024, to July 1, 2027, inclusive, provide the Assembly Committee on Budget, the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office with quarterly updates on the implementation of the new reimbursement rates set under the alternative methodology. The quarterly updates shall include any changes to the information provided in the report described in paragraph (1). (h) Beginning October 1, 2025, and through July 1, 2027, inclusive, the department shall update the Legislature not more frequently than quarterly, to the extent information is available or reported to the department by contractors, regarding progress on implementation of prospective payment and paying based on enrollment, in keeping with the goals set for funds appropriated pursuant to Provision 19 of Item 5180-101-0001 of the Budget Act of 2025 and with subparagraph (i) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (m) of Section 98.45 of Subpart E of Part 98 of Subchapter A of Subtitle A of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (i) The Governor and the Legislature shall, by no later than July 1, 2025, establish reimbursement rates based on the alternative methodology. Provider reimbursement rates shall not be reduced from the reimbursement rates that were in effect on June 30, 2024, pursuant to Sections 10280 and 10374.5 of this code and Section 8242 of the Education Code, inclusive of the cost of care plus rates established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10277.1 and subdivision (b) of Section 10277.2. (j) (1) If the new reimbursement rates established pursuant to subdivision(i) do not take effect on July 1, 2025, the department shall provide the Legislature with a timeline for transitioning from the rates that are in effect on July 1, 2025, to the new rates established pursuant to subdivision (i). (2) Any temporary reimbursement rates established as part of the transition timeline required by paragraph (1) shall be, at minimum, equivalent to the reimbursement rates established pursuant to Sections 10280 and 10374.5 of this code and Section 8242 of the Education Code, inclusive of the cost of care plus rates established pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10277.1 and subdivision (b) of Section 10277.2. (k) The single rate structure shall apply to all programs funded by the State Department of Social Services under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10225), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 10235), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 10240), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10250), Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 10260), Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370), and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11461.6) of Part 2, and the State Department of Education under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 8200) of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code. ( l ) (1) Except as required by subdivision (n), it is the intent of the Legislature, beginning July 1, 2025, to cease using a regional market rate survey pursuant to Section 10436, and instead use an alternative methodology, as defined in subdivision (ak) of Section 10213.5, for the purpose of informing the setting of future childcare rates. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that: (A) Reimbursement rates are set pursuant to statute and informed by the alternative methodology, as defined in subdivision (ak) of Section 10213.5. (B) Under the single rate structure, all programs described in subdivision (k) shall be reimbursed under a unified structure that takes into account a common set of rate elements. (C) Rate levels shall be informed by the costs associated with meeting health and safety requirements and program requirements. (D) Base rates shall be administered as a per-child amount, and programs shall be able to claim reimbursement for services they deliver consistent with enhanced rates, if any. (E) Rates shall vary based on all of the following: (i) Geography. (ii) Type of care setting. (iii) Regulatory requirements applicable to each type of care setting. (iv) Time categories. (v) Child age. (m) Commencing July 1, 2026, rates for all programs described in subdivision (k) shall receive the cost-of-living adjustment granted by the Legislature annually pursuant to Section 42238.15 of the Education Code as a minimum annual rate increase for all subsidized childcare providers. (n) If the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families does not approve the alternative methodology developed pursuant to this section, the department shall develop and conduct a survey of the market rates for childcare services. (o) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 10426, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10228. Section 10228.

If the market rate survey is used to set reimbursement rates, the following shall apply: (a) Payments made by alternative payment programs shall not exceed the applicable market rate ceiling. Alternative payment programs may expend more than the standard reimbursement rate for a particular child. However, the aggregate payments for services purchased by the agency during the contract year shall not exceed the assigned reimbursable amount as established by the contract for the year. No agency may make payments in excess of the rate charged to full-cost families. This section does not preclude alternative payment programs from using the average daily enrollment adjustment factor for children with exceptional needs as provided in Section 10281.5. (b) Alternative payment programs shall reimburse licensed childcare providers in accordance with a biennial market rate survey pursuant to Section 10436, at a rate not to exceed the ceilings established pursuant to Section 10374.5. (c) An alternative payment program shall reimburse a licensed provider for childcare of a subsidized child based on the rate charged by the provider to nonsubsidized families, if any, for the same services, or the rates established by the provider for prospective nonsubsidized families. A licensed childcare provider shall submit to the alternative payment program a copy of the provider’s rate sheet listing the rates charged, and the provider’s discount or scholarship policies, if any, along with a statement signed by the provider confirming that the rates charged for a subsidized child are equal to or less than the rates charged for a nonsubsidized child. A license-exempt childcare provider is not required to submit rate sheets. (d) An alternative payment program shall maintain a copy of the rate sheet and the confirmation statement. (e) A licensed childcare provider shall submit to the local resource and referral agency a copy of the provider’s rate sheet listing rates charged, and the provider’s discount or scholarship policies, if any, and shall self-certify that the information is correct. (f) Each licensed childcare provider may alter rate levels for subsidized children, as needed, and shall provide the alternative payment program and resource and referral agency with the updated information pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (e), to reflect any changes. Updated rates shall be effective within 60 days of submission of the updated information pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (e). (g) A licensed childcare provider shall post in a prominent location adjacent to the provider’s license at the childcare facility the provider’s rates and discounts or scholarship policies, if any. (h) An alternative payment program shall verify provider rates no less frequently than once a year by randomly selecting 10 percent of licensed childcare providers serving subsidized families. The purpose of this verification process is to confirm that rates reported to the alternative payment programs reasonably correspond to those reported to the resource and referral agency and the rates actually charged to nonsubsidized families for equivalent levels of services. It is the intent of the Legislature that the privacy of nonsubsidized families shall be protected in implementing this subdivision. (i) The department shall develop regulations for addressing discrepancies in the provider rate levels identified through the rate verification process in subdivision (h). (j) If a childcare provider’s reimbursement rate category could be construed as either full-time weekly or full-time monthly pursuant to Section 18075 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the alternative payment program, county, or contractor shall reimburse the provider in accordance with either of the following: (1) The applicable rate category that most closely corresponds to the rate category listed on the licensed childcare provider’s rate sheet. (2) If the alternative payment program, county, or contractor cannot determine a single applicable rate category from the licensed childcare provider’s rate sheet, or if the license-exempt childcare provider does not have a rate sheet on file, the applicable rate category that results in the higher reimbursement.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10228.1. Section 10228.1.

Out of funds appropriated in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 10214 for alternative payment programs, the department shall reallocate funds as necessary to reimburse alternative payment programs, excluding programs operating pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370), for actual and allowable costs incurred for additional services. An alternative payment program may apply for reimbursement of up to 3 percent of the contract amount, or for a greater amount subject to the discretion of the department based on the availability of funds. The department shall approve or deny applications submitted pursuant to this section, but shall not consider applications received after September 30 of the current calendar year. The department shall distribute reimbursement funds for each approved application within 90 days of receipt of the application if it was filed between May 1 and July 20, inclusive, of the current calendar year. Applications received after July 20 are not subject to the 90-day requirement for the distribution of funds. If requests for reimbursement pursuant to this section exceed available funds, the department shall assign priority for reimbursement according to the order in which it receives applications. Funds received by an alternative payment program pursuant to this section that are not substantiated by the program’s annual audit shall be returned to the department.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10229. Section 10229.

The reimbursement for alternative payment programs shall include the cost of child care paid to child care providers plus the administrative and support services costs of the alternative payment program. The total cost for administration and support services shall not exceed an amount equal to 17.5 percent of the total contract amount. The administrative costs shall not exceed the costs allowable for administration under federal requirements, and shall include, but not be limited to, costs associated with the dissemination of information on developmental screenings, including information on existing resources and a description of how a family or eligible child care provider may utilize those resources to obtain developmental screenings, as described in Section 9858c of the Title 42 of the United States Code.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10229.4. Section 10229.4.

If the market rate survey is used to set reimbursement rates, the following shall apply: (a) Payments made by the Migrant Alternative Payment Program shall not exceed the applicable market rate ceiling. (b) The reimbursement for the Migrant Alternative Payment Program shall include the cost of childcare paid to childcare providers plus the administrative and support services costs of the Migrant Alternative Payment Program. The total cost for administration and support services shall not exceed an amount equal to 21 percent of the total contract amount. The administrative costs shall not exceed the costs allowable for administration under federal requirements.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10229.5. Section 10229.5.

The audits for such agencies shall include, but not be limited to, a sampling of the evidence of fees charged to, and paid by, families of nonsubsidized children, the daily enrollment of subsidized children, the number of days of service provided to subsidized children, the assessment and collection of parent fees, and the availability of support services to subsidized children and their families as needed pursuant to the terms of the contract.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10230. Section 10230.

When making referrals, every agency operating both a direct service program and an alternative payment program shall provide at least four referrals, at least one of which shall be a provider over which the agency has no fiscal or operational control, as well as information to a family on the family’s ability to choose a license exempt provider.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10230.5. Section 10230.5.

(a) When making referrals, every program operating pursuant to this chapter shall provide information to any person who requests a child care referral of their right to view the licensing information of a licensed child day care facility required to be maintained at the facility pursuant to Section 1596.859 of the Health and Safety Code and to access any public files pertaining to the facility that are maintained by the department’s Community Care Licensing Division. (b) A written or oral advisement in substantially the following form will comply with the requirements of subdivision (a): “State law requires licensed child day care facilities to make accessible to the public a copy of any licensing report pertaining to the facility that documents a facility visit or a substantiated complaint investigation. In addition, a more complete file regarding a child care licensee may be available at an office of the State Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division. You have the right to access any public information in these files.” (c) Every program operating pursuant to this chapter shall, within two days of receiving notice, remove from the program’s referral list the name of any licensed child day care facility with a revocation or a temporary suspension order or that is on probation. (d) A program operating pursuant to this chapter shall, within two business days of being notified of a revocation or a temporary suspension order for a licensed child day care facility, do both of the following: (1) Terminate payment to the facility. (2) Notify each parent and the facility in writing that payment has been terminated and the reason for the termination. (e) A program operating pursuant to this chapter shall, upon being notified that a licensed child day care facility has been placed on probation, provide written notice to each parent utilizing the facility that the facility has been placed on probation and that the parent has the option of selecting a different child day care provider or remaining with the facility without risk of subsidy payments to the provider being terminated. The Legislature urges each agency operating pursuant to this section to provide the written notice required by this subdivision in the primary language of the parent, to the extent feasible.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10231. Section 10231.

(a) To the extent that funding is made available for this purpose through the annual Budget Act, the alternative payment agency in each county shall design, maintain, and administer a system to consolidate local child care waiting lists so as to establish a countywide centralized eligibility list. In those counties with more than one alternative payment agency, the agency that also administers the resource and referral program shall have the responsibility of developing, maintaining, and administering the countywide centralized eligibility list. In those counties with more than one alternative payment agency and more than one resource and referral program, the department shall establish a process to select the agency to develop, maintain, and administer the countywide centralized eligibility list. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), in those counties in which a countywide centralized eligibility list exists the entity administering that list may receive funding, instead of the entity specified under subdivision (a). (c) Each centralized eligibility list shall include all of the following: (1) Family characteristics, including ZIP Code of residence, ZIP Code of employment, monthly income, and size. (2) Child characteristics, including birth date and whether the child has special needs. (3) Service characteristics, including reason for need, whether full-time or part-time service is requested, and whether after hours or weekend care is requested. (d) Information collected for the centralized eligibility list shall be reported to the department on an annual basis on the date and in the manner determined by the department. (e) (1) To be eligible to enter into an agreement with the department to provide subsidized child care, a contractor shall participate in and use the centralized eligibility list. (2) A contractor with a campus child care and development program operating pursuant to Section 66060 of the Education Code, migrant child care and development program operating on a seasonal basis pursuant to Section 10235, or program serving children with severe disabilities pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 10260 and who has a local site waiting list shall submit eligibility list information to the centralized eligibility list administrator for any parent seeking subsidized child care for whom these programs are not able to provide child care and development services. A child care and development contractor or program described in this paragraph may utilize any waiting lists developed at its local site to fill vacancies for its specific population. Families enrolled from a local site waiting list shall be enrolled pursuant to Section 10271.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10231.5. Section 10231.5.

(a) (1) On or before July 1, 2019, an alternative payment program shall establish a program of electronic banking for payments made to licensed or license-exempt child care providers that have a contract with that alternative payment program, including, but not limited to, direct deposit. A child care provider may choose to receive payments via electronic banking at the child care provider’s option. The child care provider may, but is not required to, authorize payment to be directly deposited by an electronic fund transfer into the child care provider’s account at the financial institution of their choice. (2) Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude an alternative payment program that has an electronic banking program in place before the effective date of this subdivision from continuing to require a child care provider, including child care centers and family child care homes, to accept direct deposit or another form of electronic payment after the effective date of this subdivision. (b) An alternative payment program shall include a description of the payment to the child care provider, by child served and month of service covered by the payment.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10232. Section 10232.

(a) Alternative payment programs and providers operating or providing services pursuant to this chapter may maintain records electronically, in compliance with state and federal standards, as determined by the department. Any conversion from a paper record to an electronic format, as well as the storage of the electronic record, shall comply with the minimum standards described in Section 12168.7 of the Government Code and the standards for trustworthy electronic document or record preservation described in Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 22620.1) of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) The records shall be retained by each contractor for at least five years, or, where an audit has been requested by a state agency, until the date the audit is resolved, whichever is longer. (c) This section does not require an alternative payment program or provider to create records electronically.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10232.5. Section 10232.5.

Alternative payment programs and providers operating or providing services pursuant to this chapter may use a digital signature that complies with state and federal standards, as determined by the department, that may be a marking that is either computer generated or produced by electronic means and is intended by the signatory to have the same effect as a handwritten signature. The use of a digital signature shall have the same force and effect as the use of a manual signature if the requirements for digital signatures and their acceptable technology, as provided in Section 16.5 of the Government Code and in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22000) of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations, are satisfied.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10233. Section 10233.

Alternative payment programs and providers operating or providing services pursuant to this chapter may use digital forms to allow families to apply for services, if those forms comply with state and federal standards.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10234. Section 10234.

An alternative payment agency, including, but not limited to, an alternative payment agency for migrant child care and development programs established pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 10235), shall provide to the department, on a monthly basis, data about child care caseload in the alternative payment program established pursuant to this chapter and migrant child care and development programs established pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 10235). This data shall include county-by-county caseload, expenditures, unit costs, family fees, and other key variables requested by the department to determine any additional state allocations to these programs and for purposes of emergency response.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026