10205. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 259.)

(a) Commencing July 1, 2021, the department succeeds to, and is vested with, all the powers, functions, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the programs, responsibilities, services, and systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203.

(b) The department may enter into memoranda of understanding or interagency agreements or contracts with the California Health and Human Services Agency, its other departments and offices, the State Department of Education, and any other state agency, department, or office, as necessary to implement this part.

(c) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, any reference to the State Department of Education or the Superintendent of Public Instruction in any regulation, contract, or in any other code, with respect to any of the programs, responsibilities, services, or systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203, is a reference to the State Department of Social Services.

(d) Without limiting any other powers or duties, the department shall ensure compliance with the terms of any state plans, memoranda of understanding, administrative orders, interagency agreements, contracts, assurances, single state agency obligations, federal statutes and regulations, and any other form of agreement or obligation that vital government activities rely upon or are a condition to the continued receipt by the department of state or federal funds or services.

(e) All existing regulations relating to programs, responsibilities, services, and systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203 that have been adopted by the State Department of Education on or before June 30, 2021, are expressly continued in force, unless they conflict with the act that added this part. Any statute, law, rule, or regulation relating to the programs, responsibilities, services, and systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203 that are in force on June 30, 2020, or that may hereafter be enacted or adopted with reference to this part, shall apply to the department.

(f) A contract, lease, license, state or federal grant, memorandum of understanding, or any other agreement relating to the programs, responsibilities, services, and systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203 to which the State Department of Education is a party is not void or voidable by reason of the act that added this part, but are continued in full force and effect, with the department assuming all of the rights, obligations, and duties of the State Department of Education. The assumption by the department does not in any way affect the rights of the parties to the contract, lease, license, state or federal grant, memorandum of understanding, or agreement.

(h) All financial and accounting records, documents, records, and property relating to programs, responsibilities, services, and systems listed in subdivision (b) of Section 10203 shall be transferred to the department by the State Department of Education. The format and timing of this transfer shall be mutually agreed upon by the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and shall not require formal agreement or approval by any other entity.

(i) On or before July 1, 2021, the Governor shall establish the position of Deputy Director of Child Care and Development within the department, as an exempt position, to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and who holds office at the pleasure of the Governor.

(j) On or before March 31, 2021, the department shall submit to the appropriate budget and policy committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the Early Childhood Policy Council, a plan that describes how the department will achieve the intent expressed in Section 10203, including a description of activities undertaken by the department up until that date, and specifying all of the following:

(1) How the department intends to make child care programs more integrated.

(2) How the department plans to maintain existing connections or enhance connections to California state preschool programs, transitional kindergarten, and elementary and secondary education.

(3) An estimate of the ongoing cost of the State Department of Social Services for administering child care programs. A description of the number of positions that will move to the State Department of Social Services from the State Department of Education and the number of additional positions the State Department of Social Services will need.

(4) How this shift results in better services for children and families, including how this shift will ensure families have the most comprehensive information about their choices in comprehensive supports for their families, including child care.

(5) How the department plans to prevent administrative duplication and regulatory conflict for providers that have contracts for both general child care and development programs and California state preschool programs.

(6) How the department plans to maintain the existing provider flexibility to transfer funds across contracts for both general child care and development programs and California state preschool programs.

(7) How the department plans to ensure quality projects support state-supported child care in all settings, including California state preschool programs.

(8) How the California Head Start State Collaboration Office will continue to engage with California state preschool program providers and school districts.

(9) How parents will be provided enhanced information about making an informed child care choice that best meets their child’s and family’s needs, from the full spectrum of quality child care available.

(10) How a cradle-to-career, interagency data system will provide improved state-level reporting, support the goals of the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care, and support the achievement of paragraph (9).

(11) Further plans to align activities with recommendations from the Master Plan for Early Learning and Care regarding child care.

(k) From October 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, inclusive, the department shall submit to the appropriate budget and policy committees of the Legislature, the Department of Finance, and the Early Childhood Policy Council a quarterly report that describes how the department is making progress on the transition required by this chapter, and how the department is furthering the intent of this transition.