Timely Subsidy Payments

Raise Your Voice

Child Care Providers United (CCPUnited) of California will introduce two legislative bills in Sacramento in 2009: Assembly Bill (AB) 304 and AB 315.

AB 304 would give child care providers the option to be reimbursed by alternative payment (AP) agencies via direct deposit.

This would have the effect of ensuring that subsidy payments are made on time, while simultaneously reducing fraud and facilitating the oversight process, as the state would find it easier to track subsidy payments made to child care providers.

AP agencies and child care providers who have had experience with direct deposit payments have reported overwhelmingly positive results.

Direct deposit saves time, allows providers to better plan their monthly activities, and has increased provider satisfaction with the state subsidy program.

AB 304 is currently in committee.

Meanwhile, AB 315 is an attempt to standardize AP payday procedures statewide.

The bill would:

• Set a standard pay date across the state;

• Establish an 800-number where providers could lodge their concerns about payment issues;

• Establish regular meetings between providers and the state to address any issues that arise;

• Mandate that providers receive a written explanation for payment differentials; and

• Create a penalty mechanism for AP agencies that issue late payments.

As AB 315 is currently in revision, that is, being written, there is an opportunity for child care providers to weigh in with their thoughts and suggestions.

Please contact your area organizer or peer advocate for information.

Payment Surveys

The California Department of Education (CDE) is in the process of rewriting the regulations governing how alternative payment agencies (APs) reimburse child care providers.

We want to make sure that CDE hears from as many child care providers as possible about how the system has been working and how the process of delivering subsidy payments can be improved.

Please download the surveys (English / Spanish), fill them out, and send them back to us no later than March 31, 2009.

The information will be used to put together a short memo summarizing providers' experiences and highlighting areas that need to be addressed during the revision of CDE's payment regulations.

You can mail, fax, or e-mail us the surveys using the following information:

Provider Payment Survey Child Care Providers United of California 2101 Webster Street #1850 Oakland, CA 94612 1-866-336-9333 510-663-3933 fax ca@ccpunited.org

Provider Payment Survey Child Care Providers United of California 3055 Wilshire Boulevard #1050 Los Angeles, CA 90010 1-866-574-8907 213-381-7348 fax ca@ccpunited.org

Keep checking our website www.ccpunited.org for more updates.

Thank you.
Child Care Providers United of California