(a) The preferred placement for children who are 11 or 12 years of age and who are otherwise eligible for subsidized child care and development services shall be in a before or after school program.

(b) Children who are 11 or 12 years of age shall be eligible for subsidized child care services only for the portion of care needed that is not available in a before or after school program provided pursuant to Article 22.5 (commencing with Section 8482) or Article 22.6 (commencing with Section 8484.7). Contractors shall provide each family of an eligible 11 or 12 year old with the option of combining care provided in a before or after school program with subsidized child care in another setting, for those hours within a day when the before or after school program does not operate, in order to meet the child care needs of the family.

(c) Children who are 11 or 12 years of age, who are eligible for and who are receiving subsidized child care services, and for whom a before or after school program is not available, shall continue to receive subsidized child care services.

(d) If an 11 or 12 year old child who is enrolled in a subsidized child development program becomes ineligible for subsidized child care under subdivision (b) and is disenrolled from the before or after school program, or if the before or after school program no longer meets the child care needs of the family, the child shall be given priority to return to the subsidized child care services upon the parent’s notification of the contractor of the need for child care.

(e) This section does not apply to an 11 or 12 year old child with a disability, including a child with exceptional needs who has an individualized education program as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), or Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000) of Division 4 of Title 2.

(f) The savings generated each contract year by the implementation of the changes made to this section by the act amending this section during the 2005–06 Regular Session shall remain with each alternative payment program, child development center, or other contractor for the provision of child care services, except for care provided by programs pursuant to Article 15.5 (commencing with Section 8350).

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 460, Sec. 1. (AB 1944) Effective January 1, 2015.)