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AB 1471

Resource and referral agencies.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Esmeralda Soria

AB 1471 directs child care R&R agencies to lead disaster prep, relief, and recovery for providers (when funded), plus data reporting and coordination with DSS and emergency plans.

In committee: Held under submission.
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Bill Summary · AB 1471

AB 1471 (Soria) — Resource and referral agencies — Bill summary

Status: Introduced Feb 21, 2025. Last action: In committee — held under submission (Assembly Appropriations, 05/23/2025).

Purpose / intent

AB 1471 revises and refocuses existing law governing local child care resource and referral (R&R) agencies to strengthen their role in disaster preparedness, response, relief, and recovery for childcare providers. It replaces an earlier COVID‑19 recovery reporting requirement with new, disaster‑focused duties to be carried out if the Legislature appropriates funding.

Key provisions

  • Repeals current Welfare & Institutions Code Section 10224.5 (which directed use of certain federal COVID‑19 relief funds to strengthen R&R intermediary roles and monthly data reporting).
  • Adds a new Section 10224.5 that, upon legislative appropriation, requires local child care R&R agencies to:
    • Implement roles and responsibilities assigned to them in specified childcare disaster plans.
    • Support childcare providers in developing and communicating disaster response policies, building relationships with local emergency response teams, and offering training and assistance (e.g., keeping emergency contact info and preparedness supplies up to date).
    • Provide relief and recovery services to providers, including serving as intermediaries to develop new childcare facilities and support existing capacity; collaborate with the Department of Social Services to streamline and improve data collection processes.
  • Directs the Department of Social Services, in consultation with local R&R agencies, to establish disaster and disaster‑preparedness data collection and reporting requirements for childcare providers; required data must include provider status, capacity, and vacancy.
  • Requires, upon appropriation, the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to implement roles assigned to it in the disaster plans.
  • Defines “disaster plans” to mean the California Child Care Disaster Plan (2016) and California’s Statewide Interagency Childcare Disaster Plan (October 2023).
  • Makes technical/nonsubstantive edits to existing statutory language governing R&R program services (W&I Code §10219), which describe standard R&R functions such as resource files, referral processes, and public information.

Who is affected

  • Local child care resource and referral agencies (primary responsibilities).
  • California Child Care Resource and Referral Network.
  • Childcare providers (licensed and, where applicable, unlicensed) — new reporting and preparedness expectations.
  • California Department of Social Services — tasked with creating disaster data/reporting requirements and guidance.
  • Parents and families indirectly, via improved disaster coordination and continuity of childcare services.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • The duties in new Section 10224.5 take effect only "upon appropriation by the Legislature" — implementation depends on future funding.
  • The bill progressed through Assembly Human Services (do pass, unanimous) and was re‑referred to Assembly Appropriations (placed on suspense file); held under submission in Appropriations as of 05/23/2025.
  • Potential fiscal impact: dependent on appropriations; may create administrative costs for local R&R agencies and providers to comply with training and reporting requirements.

Potential impacts (overview)

  • Benefits: better disaster readiness and recovery coordination for childcare services; improved state visibility into provider capacity after disasters; stronger linkages between providers and emergency response systems.
  • Tradeoffs: increased administrative/reporting burden on R&R agencies and providers and a need for appropriated funds to accomplish required activities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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