Senate Standing Committee on Human Services

Okay, we'll start the Senate Committee on human services in 30 seconds.

Good morning. I'd like to call toward this meeting of the Senate Committee on human services for September 10th, 2025. We do have a quorum, so I'd like to ask the committee assistant, please call the roll.

[roll call].

Okay, a quorum. The committee is present and other members will be joining us. And so we have one bill that we are taking up pursuant to Senate Rule 2910 D, which is my bill. And so I'll hand the gavel over to the Vice Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And welcome.

Great. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. Members, for the opportunity to present Senate Bill 792, which will align the disenrollment income eligibility threshold across the child care and development programs administered by the California Department of Social Services from 70% to 85% of the area median income.

Additionally, SB 719 clarifies that for reimbursement purposes, attendance includes excused absences for medical and educational appointments and days when a provider is required to hold a child space while the family is presumed to have abandoned care or is appealing disenrollment and also extends family fee exemptions from 12 to 24 months for children referred for or at risk of receiving child protective services.

And put this bill in context. In today's world, child care is critical for so many families in our state. For many working parents, subsidized child care makes it possible for them to keep their jobs and provide for their families. It's essential that these programs operate smoothly to ensure that they continue to support California's children and families.

For these reasons, SB 792 is of importance as it will prevent families from being erroneously disenrolled from the critical child care and Developmental Services that they depend on. Currently, a family's income cannot exceed 85% of the state median income to be eligible for California's childcare and development programs.

This bill will update these references to reflect the current income threshold of 85% SMI. Without this bill, families are at risk of being disenrolled from critical child care services when they are in fact, still eligible to receive such services.

If a family is disenrolled, they may permanently lose access to critical child care and resources that they rely on for their self sufficiency. At the appropriate time, respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you very much, Senator Arreguin. Do we have any lead witnesses?

No witnesses.

No witnesses. Okay. Do we have any witnesses in the audience that would like to testify in support? No. Okay, we'll lead. We'll follow up with any witnesses in opposition? Seeing none here in the room. Seeing none. We'll bring you back to the dais.

Any comments or questions by the members. We have a motion by Senator Becker I just want to comment on. Thank you for bringing this measure forward. It's a very worthy, worthy bill and very much needed in our state of affairs in California with the high cost of living.

So grateful that you're bringing this forward and would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Okay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

File item 1, SB 792. The motion is Assembly amendments to be concurred in. [roll call].

Okay, we'll place that on hold for our absent members. Thank you very much, Senator Arreguin.

Thank you colleagues for being here. If you have recorded a vote, you are free to go. This committee will be in recess for five minutes as we wait for the other members to come and record their votes.

Thank you.

I thought it was on. Run back. Clearly that's too many things. Thinking of.

Thank you. Okay, we are reconvening the Human Services Committee meeting. We have a motion which is concurrence in the Assembly amendments and do pass the floor for SB 792. If the committee assists, can please call the roll?

[roll call].

Okay, thank you. We'll keep that bell on call. Thank you very much, Senator. And so we will recess the committee for five minutes before we close the roll.

Now they.

Okay, we'll reconvene the Senate Committee on Human Services. Okay, the committee is back in session and we do have a motion which is concurrence with the Assembly amendments for Senate Bill 792 and do pass to the floor. And if the committee assistant, could please call the roll.

[roll call].

Okay, that bill is out on a vote of 5 to 0. Thank you. I believe this will be our last hearing for this committee this year. So thank you to this, the staff and our colleagues. With that, the Senate Committee on Human Services now adjourned. Thank you.