Committee sends bill to expand migrant childcare eligibility to appropriations

The Assembly Committee on Human Services voted 7-0 on May 20 to pass SB 778 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill, presented by Senator Limon, would broaden eligibility and ease documentation requirements for the Migrant Child Care and Development Program administered by the California Department of Social Services.

SB 778 would redefine a "migrant agriculture worker family" in statute to include families where at least one household member earns 40% or more of their total income from agricultural work, and would allow eligible families to self-certify and submit documentation to establish income eligibility to CDSS.

Vicky Santos of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation and Jacob Villagomez of California Citrus Mutual testified in support, saying the changes would address verification challenges and the seasonal nature of agricultural work. Santos said the bill would ease enrollment for farmworker families by addressing cultural and linguistic barriers and simplifying employer verification. Villagomez said the modest statutory change reflects the realities of a workforce that frequently relies on multiple jobs and seasonal work.

First 5 California also registered support during public comment. Committee members expressed bipartisan appreciation for measures to expand childcare access for farmworker families. The committee recorded a 7-0 vote to pass the bill to Appropriations.