(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the annual Budget Act appropriate state and federal funds in a single allocation to counties for the support of administrative activities undertaken by the counties to provide benefit payments to recipients of aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 and to provide required work activities and supportive services in order to efficiently and effectively carry out the purposes of that chapter.

(b) (1) No later than 30 days after the enactment of the Budget Act of 2004, the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall estimate the amount of unspent funds appropriated in the 2003-04 fiscal year single allocation described in this section.

(2) Unspent funds appropriated in the 2003-04 fiscal year single allocation, not to exceed forty million dollars ($40,000,000), shall be reappropriated to, and in augmentation of, Item 5180-101-0890 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2004. The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop an allocation methodology for these funds. A planning allocation, based on the estimated amount of unspent funds and the agreed upon allocation methodology, shall be provided to the counties no later than 30 days after the enactment of the Budget Act of 2004.

(c) (1) No later than 30 days after the enactment of the Budget Act of 2005, the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall estimate the amount of unspent funds appropriated in the 2004-05 fiscal year single allocation described in this section.

(2) Unspent funds appropriated in the 2004-05 fiscal year single allocation, not to exceed fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), shall be reappropriated to, and in augmentation of, Item 5180-101-0890 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2005. The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, shall develop an allocation methodology for these funds in order to partially offset the estimated savings due to the implementation of the quarterly reporting/prospective budgeting. A planning allocation, based on the estimated amount of unspent funds and the agreed upon allocation methodology, shall be provided to the counties no later than 30 days after the enactment of the Budget Act of 2005.

(d) The State Department of Social Services shall work with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, to determine the effect of implementation of the quarterly reporting/prospective budgeting system on eligibility activities and evaluate the impact on administrative costs.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), commencing with the 2021-22 fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the funding provided for stage one childcare, as described in Article 15.5 (commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, shall be allocated to counties separately from the single allocation described in subdivision (a) for purposes of providing direct stage one childcare services and stage one childcare-related administration pursuant to Article 15.5 of the Education Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 11, Sec. 74. (AB 79) Effective June 29, 2020.)