Childcare: mental health consultation services.

Children Education Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Blanca Rubio
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details of the new observation tool are not provided in the summary.

Childcare: Mental Health Help for Kids

This law changes how childcare providers can get money back when they offer mental health help to kids in their care.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rules about getting money back for providing early childhood mental health consultation services.
Removes old requirements that these services must follow a specific relationship-based model with certain steps.
Adds new requirements, such as using an observation tool at least once per school year to help plan activities and support for kids in consultation with the classroom team or childcare provider.

Who It Names or Affects

Childcare providers who offer mental health services
Children up to age 13 in childcare programs

Terms To Know

Reimbursable: The cost of providing a service can be paid back by the government.
Relationship-based model: A way to provide mental health services that focuses on building strong relationships with children and their families.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money childcare providers will get back.
The exact details of the new observation tool are not provided in the summary.

Bill History

2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on ED.
2026-03-26 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 24).
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and ED.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2429, as amended, Blanca Rubio.
Childcare: mental health consultation services.
The Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, establishes a system of childcare and development services for children up to 13 years of age. The Early Education Act requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to, among other things, provide an inclusive and cost-effective preschool program. Under both acts, the cost to a provider agency of providing an early childhood mental health consultation service is reimbursable if certain requirements are met, including that the consultation service uses a relationship-based model that includes specified components, including, among others, that, at least twice per program year, early care- and education setting-based mental health assessments are conducted and that there is, with the consent of parents or legal guardians, at least one screening of each enrolled child for adverse
childhood experiences and screening for buffering factors.
This bill would remove the requirement that the consultation service use a relationship-based model that includes those components in order to be reimbursable and instead requires that, in order to be reimbursable, the consultation service, among other things, uses a relationship-based model that
includes that,
includes,
at least once per school
year in each classroom,
or program year,
in consultation with the classroom
team,
team or childcare provider, as applicable,
the use of an early care and education classroom observation tool to inform the specific activities and support the consultant will provide.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF