10224.5. (Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 260.)

(a) Federal funds allocated to local child care resource and referral agencies to support their continued participation in COVID-19 relief and recovery shall include, but not be limited to, strengthening their role in serving as intermediaries to develop new, and support existing, child care facilities and capacity, and to streamline and improve data collection processes in collaboration with the state for use by the agencies and by the state. Additional data reporting shall include gathering data from providers and updating information on child care provider status, capacity, and vacancy at least once a month. Data collected shall be provided to the department or its designee at least monthly. The department shall provide guidance regarding data collection and reporting requirements pursuant to this section.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to allocate funds for the purposes described in subdivision (a) annually, subject to an appropriation for this purpose.