(SACRAMENTO) — Legislation authored by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, will grant Fresno County the authority to develop and implement an individualized county child care plan. AB 258 was approved by the state Senate and Assembly on a unanimous, bi-partisan vote of 40-0 and 79-0, respectively.
Like similar pilot projects before, AB 258 will give Fresno County flexibility to maximize allocated funding and efficiently use child care subsidy funds to serve the needs of more children and their working families. AB 258 will allow Fresno County to utilize approximately $9.6 million under the state’s subsidized child care program that was previously being returned to the state.
“I am proud to say AB 258 roughly translates to 1,300 more children receiving child care in my county and I thank Governor Brown and my colleagues in the State Legislature for their commitment to enacting this important law,” said Assemblymember Arambula.
AB 258 will allow child care providers to better meet the needs of children and working families, improve access to state subsidized child care programs, and strengthen the fragile child care and development infrastructure without requiring additional state funding.
“This bill is a win for Fresno County kids. It will ensure that more children of hardworking families will receive childcare services,” said Jim Yovino, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, sponsor of the bill.
"California's budget woes deny over 1.2 million children and working families the childcare they need to thrive. This pilot will allow us to use existing childcare resources to serve more of Fresno’s families. I strongly believe that for working parents, child care is a critically important factor in their ability to earn a living for their families. This bill will ensure that more kids have access to quality child care,” concluded Assemblymember Arambula.
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