(a) In order to reflect the additional expense of serving children who meet any of the criteria outlined in subdivision (c), the provider agency’s reported child days of enrollment for these children shall be multiplied by the adjustment factors listed below.

(b) The adjustment factors described in subdivision (c) shall apply to those programs for which assigned reimbursement rates are at or below the standard reimbursement rate. In addition, the adjustment factors shall apply to those programs for which assigned reimbursement rates are above the standard reimbursement rate, but the reimbursement rate, as adjusted, shall not exceed the adjusted standard reimbursement rate.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2019, the adjustment factors shall be as follows:

(1) Prior to January 1, 2022, for infants who are 0 to 18 months of age, inclusive, and are served in a child care center or a family child care home, the adjustment factor shall be 2.44.

(2) Prior to January 1, 2022, for toddlers who are 18 to 36 months of age, inclusive, and are served in a child care center or a family child care home, the adjustment factor shall be 1.8.

(3) For children with exceptional needs who are 0 to 21 years of age, inclusive, the adjustment factor shall be 1.54.

(4) For severely disabled children who are 0 to 21 years of age, inclusive, the adjustment factor shall be 1.93.

(5) Prior to January 1, 2022, for children at risk of neglect, abuse, or exploitation who are 0 to 14 years of age the adjustment factor shall be 1.1.

(6) Prior to January 1, 2022, for dual language learner children who are two years of age through kindergarten age, inclusive, the adjustment factor shall be 1.1.

(7) For infants and toddlers who are 0 to 36 months of age, inclusive, and are served in general child care and development programs, or children who are 0 to 5 years of age, inclusive, and are served in a family child care home education network setting funded by a general child care and development program, where early childhood mental health consultation services are provided, pursuant to Section 10281, the adjustment factor shall be 1.1.

(d) Use of the adjustment factors shall not increase the provider agency’s total annual allocation.

(e) (1) Days of enrollment for children who meet more than one of the criteria outlined in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (c) shall not be reported under more than one of the categories specified in those paragraphs.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for children for whom an adjustment factor is applied pursuant to any of paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (c), and who are additionally eligible for the adjustment factor established in paragraph (7) of subdivision (c), reported child days of enrollment shall be multiplied by the sum of the applicable adjustment factor under paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (c) and 0.05.

(f) The difference between the reimbursement resulting from the use of the adjustment factors outlined in subdivision (c) and the reimbursement that would otherwise be received by a provider in the absence of the adjustment factors shall be used for special and appropriate services for each child for whom an adjustment factor is claimed.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 571, Sec. 48. (AB 185) Effective September 27, 2022.)