(a) The department and the local county welfare department shall enter into contracts which establish the procedures for serving and referring a child in need of care as part of the provision of protective services pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 16500) of Part 4. The department may contract with another appropriate community agency which provides services or referrals, or both, for the prevention or intervention of child abuse or neglect if no such contract for child care services exists between the department and the county welfare department.

(b) The contracts shall specify the resource and referral program or operating agency or agencies providing child care and development pursuant to this chapter in the county that the local contracting agency shall contact to secure care for a child needing protective services. If an operating agency is unable to enroll the child, the local contracting agency described in subdivision (a) with the assistance of the providers of local resources and referral services shall locate services for the family. Payments for such located services in the absence of other funds shall be made by the local contracting agency.

(c) The need for child care funded pursuant to this section shall be reviewed by the local contracting agency no less than every three months.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 260. (AB 131) Effective July 23, 2021.)