(a) To the extent permitted by federal law, each childcare provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who receives compensation, in whole or in part, under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient, except a provider who is, by marriage, blood, or court decree, the grandparent, aunt, or uncle of the child in care, shall be registered pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605 in order to be eligible to receive this compensation. Active Trustline registration is required for providers who receive compensation under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient only to the extent permitted by that law and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. This section applies only to a license-exempt childcare provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who registers for payment under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient after the implementation of the Trustline registration system in those programs. A provider, as defined by Section 1596.60, who was exempted from Trustline registration because the provider was not compensated, in whole or in part, with funds provided under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient shall be registered, at no cost to the provider, pursuant to Sections 1596.603 and 1596.605 when either of the following occur:

(1) The provider begins to provide childcare to an eligible family for which the provider has not provided care.

(2) The provider begins to provide childcare to an eligible family subsequent to a lapse in providing care that is compensated under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient.

(b) Payment provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall cease if the provider has a criminal conviction for which the department has not granted a criminal record exemption pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1596.871.

(c) Subdivision (a) shall not be implemented unless funding for Trustline registration is appropriated to the department for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or in other legislation. The department shall enter into a contract with the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network to administer the Trustline as it relates to providers who are compensated under Stage 1 of the CalWORKs Child Care Program pursuant to Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 10370) of Part 1.8 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for providing childcare for a recipient or former recipient.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 244. (AB 131) Effective July 23, 2021.)