Welf. & Inst. Code, § 10211.5

(a) The department shall collaborate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with the advice and assistance of the Child Development Programs Advisory Committee, in the development of the state plan required pursuant to the federal Child Care and Development Fund, before submitting or reporting on that plan to the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(b) (1) For purposes of this section, “Child Care and Development Fund” has the same meaning as in Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) For purposes of this section, “collaborate” means to cooperate with and to consult with.

(c) (1) As required by federal law, the department shall develop an expenditure plan that sets forth the final priorities for child care. The department shall coordinate with the State Department of Education, the California Children and Families Commission, and other stakeholders, including the Department of Finance, to develop the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan. On or before February 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due to the federal government, the department shall release a draft of the plan. The department shall then commence a 30-day comment period that shall include at least one hearing and the opportunity for written comments. By April 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due, the department shall provide the revised plan and a description of any changes to the earlier draft to the Director of Finance and the chairs of the fiscal committees of the Legislature.

(2) After the CCDF Plan is approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the department shall provide to the Department of Finance and the fiscal committees of the Legislature a copy of the final plan and a description of any changes made since submitting the draft plan for review.

(3) If the annual Budget Act requires changes to the approved CCDF Plan, the department shall submit an amended plan to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.