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AB-2429 • 2026

Childcare: mental health consultation services.

Childcare: mental health consultation services.

Children Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Blanca Rubio
Last action
Official status
Senate - Consent
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text provided contains significant repetition and grammatical errors (e.g., 'instead requires would instead require'), which creates uncertainty about whether other components of the relationship-based model were fully removed or just modified.

Changes to Rules for Childcare Mental Health Services

This law changes what childcare programs must do to get paid by the state for mental health consultation services.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the rule that requires two mental health assessments per program year in order to receive payment.
  • Removes the requirement for screening every child for adverse childhood experiences and buffering factors if parents agree, as a condition for reimbursement.
  • Requires programs to use an early care and education classroom observation tool at least once each school or program year.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Childcare provider agencies
  • The State Department of Social Services

Terms To Know

Reimbursable
Eligible to receive payment back from the state.
Relationship-based model
A method of providing mental health support that focuses on connections between people in a program, which this bill still requires but changes how it is measured.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not specify the exact date this law will take effect.
  • The source text contains repeated and fragmented phrases that make some specific details about other requirements unclear.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Consent

Official Summary Text

Childcare: mental health consultation services.