Under existing law, the California Child Day Care Facilities Act, the State Department of Social Services licenses and regulates family daycare homes. Existing law requires the department to charge an applicant for licensure under the act an initial application fee and an annual license fee and authorizes a child daycare facility to use a bona fide business or personal check to pay the annual license fee.

This bill would also authorize a child daycare facility to use a bona fide business or personal check to pay the initial application fee and, beginning January 1, 2028, require the department to accept credit card payments for initial application fees and license fees from child daycare facilities. The bill would also require the department, beginning no later than January 1, 2028, to accept initial applications for licensure electronically.