10223. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 62, Sec. 20.)

(a) There is hereby established a project known as the California Child Care Initiative Project. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote and foster the project in cooperation with private corporations and local governments. The objective of the project is to increase the availability of quality childcare programs in the state.

(b) For purposes of this section, the California Child Care Initiative Project means a project to expand the role and functions of selected resource and referral agencies in activities including needs assessment, recruitment and screening of providers, technical assistance, and staff development and training, in order to aid communities in increasing their capability in the number of childcare spaces available and the quality of childcare services offered.

(c) The department shall allocate all state funds appropriated for the California Child Care Initiative Project for the purpose of making grants to those childcare resource and referral agencies that have been selected as pilot sites for the project.