AB-870 • 2026

California Children’s Services Program: county designation.

Children Healthcare

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Hadwick
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 167, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide information on the consequences if the chosen counties do not agree, nor does it detail specific standards for managing the CCS program beyond requiring their establishment by the State Department of Health Care Services.

California Children’s Services Program: County Designation

This law allows small counties with fewer than 2,000 people to let another county run the California Children's Services program if both agree and meet certain standards set by the State Department of Health Care Services.

What This Bill Does

Allows counties with a total population under 2,000 persons to designate another county to administer the CCS program.
Requires that both counties must agree for this arrangement to happen.
Specifies that neither county can be a Whole Child Model county under certain provisions of the Medi-Cal program.
Requires the State Department of Health Care Services to establish standards and adopt regulations necessary to implement these provisions.

Who It Names or Affects

Counties with fewer than 2,000 people
Other counties willing to manage another county's CCS program

Terms To Know

California Children’s Services (CCS) Program: A state-run program that provides medically necessary services for children under 21 years of age who have certain medical conditions and need financial support.
Whole Child Model county: Counties participating in a special Medi-Cal program focused on providing comprehensive care to children.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact standards for managing the CCS program are yet to be determined by the State Department of Health Care Services.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 167, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3507.).
2025-09-13 California Legislative Information
Joint Rules 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2991.).
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Senate Rule 29 suspended. (Page 2961.)
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (September 11).
2025-09-10 California Legislative Information
Joint Rules 61 and 62(a) suspended. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2802.)
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-06-19 California Legislative Information
Ordered to third reading.
2025-06-19 California Legislative Information
From Consent Calendar.
2025-06-13 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-12 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 11).
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1385.)
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 22).
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-03-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 870, Hadwick.
California Children’s Services Program: county designation.
Existing law establishes the California Children’s Services (CCS) Program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and counties, to provide medically necessary services, based on financial eligibility, for persons under 21 years of age who have any of specified medical conditions, including, among others, cystic fibrosis or hemophilia.
Existing law requires the board of supervisors of each county to designate the county department of public health or the county department of social welfare as the designated agency to administer the program. Existing law authorizes counties with a total population under 200,000 persons to administer the county program independently or jointly with the department. Existing law requires counties with a total population in excess of 200,000 persons to administer the county program
independently.
This bill would authorize counties with a total population under 2,000 persons to designate another county to administer the program, if the other county agrees to the designation and otherwise meets certain CCS standards established by the Director of Health Care Services and if neither county is a Whole Child Model county under certain provisions of the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations necessary to implement these provisions.

Current Bill Text

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