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(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to add approximately 206,800 new childcare slots above the slot levels funded during the 2020–21 fiscal year, distributed as follows:
(1) Approximately 62,000 slots to general childcare and development programs (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 10240)).
(2) Approximately 143,000 slots to alternative payment programs (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10225)).
(3) Approximately 1,300 slots to migrant alternative payment programs (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10225)).
(4) Approximately 500 slots to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program under Section 11461.6.
(b) (1) As of May 15, 2024, the state has added funding to programs that, as of that date, resulted in an award of an estimated 118,800 new childcare slots to all of the following programs:
(A) An estimated 22,000 slots to general childcare and development programs.
(B) An estimated 95,000 slots to alternative payment programs.
(C) An estimated 1,300 slots to migrant alternative payment programs.
(D) An estimated 500 slots to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the remaining new childcare slots described in subdivision (a) that have not been added and awarded as of January 1, 2024, may be distributed as follows:
(A) In the 2024–25 fiscal year, an estimated 11,000 slots to general childcare and development programs.
(B) In the 2026–27 fiscal year, 12,000 slots to general childcare and development programs and 32,000 slots to alternative payment programs, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(C) In the 2027–28 fiscal year, 17,000 slots to general childcare and development programs and 16,000 slots to alternative payment programs, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(D) In the 2028–29 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the total number of unawarded slots to general childcare and development programs from prior years and additional childcare slots needed to maintain total slot levels, as described in subdivision (a), subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(3) Any unawarded slots described in paragraph (2) shall be distributed in each subsequent fiscal year that the slot remains unawarded to the same program specified in paragraph (2), subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.
(4) (A) To distribute the General Childcare and Development slots described in paragraph (2), the State Department of Social Services shall release at least one request for applications in the fall of the applicable fiscal year. The department shall announce awards for new slots by April 1 of the applicable fiscal year, and shall execute contracts beginning on or after April 1 of the applicable fiscal year, contingent on submission of all required documentation by the applicant.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the department shall award contracts for services for 2024–25 awarded General Childcare and Development slots beginning on or after October 1, 2024, contingent on submission of all required documentation by the applicant.
(c) On an annual basis, the department shall revise the number of added and awarded slots described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) based on final awardee data. Pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), to the extent that these updated slot estimates fall below total slot levels listed in subdivision (a), the department shall add, award, and put into contract additional slots to maintain total slot levels, to the extent requested, as described in subdivision (a), subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.