California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 6 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 976 — Universal Preschool Act.

Last action — From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law, the Early Education Act, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to, among other things, provide an inclusive and cost-effective preschool program. Existing law requires the Superintendent to develop standards for the implementation of high-quality preschool programs. This bill would rename the Early Education Act as the Universal Preschool Act, and would revise and recast the act to, among other things, require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to administer the universal preschool program. The bill would require the Superintendent and the Director of Social Services to convene a statewide coordination council to develop, among other things, goals, guidelines, and best practices to be used at a local level to implement a universal preschool program, as provided. The bill would require the Superintendent, in consultation with the Director of Social Services, to develop standards for the implementation of high-quality preschool programs in all settings, including, among other settings, transitional kindergarten. The act establishes a standard reimbursement rate for both the part- and full-day preschool programs, as provided. The act defines the term "attendance" for purposes of this reimbursement to include excused absences by children because of illness, quarantine, illness or quarantine of their parent, family emergency, or to spend time with a parent or other relative as required by court of law or that is clearly in the best interest of the child. This bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to instead ensure the standard reimbursement rate provides at least a living wage for all universal preschool site supervisors, teachers, and staff. The bill would delete the definition of "attendance" for purposes of this reimbursement. The Early Education Act establishes eligibility requirements, including income eligibility requirements, for the part- and full-day preschool programs. The act establishes a fee schedule for families receiving preschool services. This bill would delete the requirements relating to eligibility and the fee schedule, and instead would provide that the universal preschool program shall be free, inclusive, and available to all 3- and 4-year-olds. The Early Education Act provides that the same fee as that prescribed for a credential shall be charged for either the issuance or renewal of each child development permit authorizing service in the supervision and instruction of children in child development programs or authorizing service as a supervisor in a program. This bill would instead provide that no fees shall be charged for either the issuance or renewal of each child development permit authorizing service in the supervision and instruction of children in child development programs or authorizing service as a supervisor in a program. The bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to offer financial support to current and aspiring universal preschool site supervisors, teachers, and other support staff in obtaining required credentials and degrees to work in the preschool classroom or setting, as provided. This bill would make other related changes to the administration of the newly named Universal Preschool Act. Existing law requires childcare resource and referral programs to provide specified services, including the establishment of a referral process that responds to parental need for information, as provided. This bill would require the Director of Social Services, in partnership with the Superintendent, to expand existing childcare resource and referral services to include navigation, referral, and enrollment services for the universal preschool program, as provided. This bill would provide that the above described changes to law would become operative only upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 28). Re-referred to Com. on ED.

  2. Coauthors revised.

  3. June 29 hearing postponed by Com. on ED.

  4. Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  5. Re-referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and ED. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  6. June 15 hearing postponed by committee.

  7. Referred to Coms. on ED. and HUM. S.

  8. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  9. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 32. Noes 1. Page 3903.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  11. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  12. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 3778.) (May 19).

  13. Set for hearing May 19.

  14. May 9 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  15. Set for hearing May 9.

  16. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 3434.) (April 19). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  17. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  18. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 3348.) (April 6).

  19. Set for hearing April 19 in HUMAN S. pending receipt.

  20. Set for hearing April 6.

  21. Re-referred to Coms. on ED. and HUMAN S.

  22. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  23. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  24. From printer.

  25. Article IV Section 8(a) of the Constitution and Joint Rule 55 dispensed with February 7, 2022, suspending the 30 calendar day requirement.

  26. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 110 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Leyva

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (110)

110 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 110 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 4000
Unaffiliated 2001
Republican 1000
Total 7001
% of votes cast 88%0%0%13%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Villapudua — Yea
Waldron — Not Voting
Mark Stone — Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading SB976 Leyva et al.

Passed 32 Yea · 1 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 13000
Unaffiliated 18005
Republican 1102
Total 32107
% of votes cast 80%3%0%18%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Portantino — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Pan — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Min — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Newman — Yea
Gonzalez — Yea
Roth — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Bates — Not Voting
Borgeas — Not Voting
Hertzberg — Not Voting
Nielsen — Not Voting
Melendez — Not Voting
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended

Passed 5 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4001
Democratic 1000
Republican 0100
Total 5101
% of votes cast 71%14%0%14%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Portantino — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Bates — Not Voting
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Republican 1000
Democratic 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Portantino — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Kamlager — Yea
Bates — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 976 do?
Existing law, the Early Education Act, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to, among other things, provide an inclusive and cost-effective preschool program. Existing law requires the Superintendent to develop standards for the implementation of high-quality preschool programs. This bill would rename the Early Education Act as the Universal Preschool Act, and would revise and recast the act to, among other things, require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to administer the universal preschool program. The bill would require the Superintendent and the Director of Social Services to convene a statewide coordination council to develop, among other things, goals, guidelines, and best practices to be used at a local level to implement a universal preschool program, as provided. The bill would require the Superintendent, in consultation with the Director of Social Services, to develop standards for the implementation of high-quality preschool programs in all settings, including, among other settings, transitional kindergarten. The act establishes a standard reimbursement rate for both the part- and full-day preschool programs, as provided. The act defines the term "attendance" for purposes of this reimbursement to include excused absences by children because of illness, quarantine, illness or quarantine of their parent, family emergency, or to spend time with a parent or other relative as required by court of law or that is clearly in the best interest of the child. This bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to instead ensure the standard reimbursement rate provides at least a living wage for all universal preschool site supervisors, teachers, and staff. The bill would delete the definition of "attendance" for purposes of this reimbursement. The Early Education Act establishes eligibility requirements, including income eligibility requirements, for the part- and full-day preschool programs. The act establishes a fee schedule for families receiving preschool services. This bill would delete the requirements relating to eligibility and the fee schedule, and instead would provide that the universal preschool program shall be free, inclusive, and available to all 3- and 4-year-olds. The Early Education Act provides that the same fee as that prescribed for a credential shall be charged for either the issuance or renewal of each child development permit authorizing service in the supervision and instruction of children in child development programs or authorizing service as a supervisor in a program. This bill would instead provide that no fees shall be charged for either the issuance or renewal of each child development permit authorizing service in the supervision and instruction of children in child development programs or authorizing service as a supervisor in a program. The bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to offer financial support to current and aspiring universal preschool site supervisors, teachers, and other support staff in obtaining required credentials and degrees to work in the preschool classroom or setting, as provided. This bill would make other related changes to the administration of the newly named Universal Preschool Act. Existing law requires childcare resource and referral programs to provide specified services, including the establishment of a referral process that responds to parental need for information, as provided. This bill would require the Director of Social Services, in partnership with the Superintendent, to expand existing childcare resource and referral services to include navigation, referral, and enrollment services for the universal preschool program, as provided. This bill would provide that the above described changes to law would become operative only upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.
Who sponsors SB 976?
SB 976 is sponsored by Luz Rivas, Cristina Garcia, Leyva, Newman, Bonta, Mia (Democratic), Caballero, Anna M. (Democratic), Hurtado, Melissa (Democratic), Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie (Republican), Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. (Democratic), Cervantes, Sabrina (Democratic), Valladares, Suzette Martinez (Republican), and Calderon, Lisa (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 976?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 976?
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