CA AB2573

Authorizes family child care providers to choose a provider organization to represent them in collective negotiations with the state regarding child care system operations, through a petition and election process overseen by the Public Employment Relations Board or a neutral third party.

Requires the State Department of Social Services and State Department of Education to provide provider organizations with contact and identification information for family child care providers, with the requesting organization bearing the reasonable collection costs.

Permits certified provider organizations to meet and confer with state agencies on matters including licensing regulations, professional development, benefits, subsidy payment procedures, reimbursement rates, and other issues affecting provider recruitment, retention, and quality.

Prohibits provider organizations from calling strikes and prohibits the state and provider organizations from interfering with, intimidating, coercing, or discriminating against providers based on their decision to join or refuse to join a provider organization.

Allows certified provider organizations to deduct membership dues and fair share fees from subsidy payments made to participating providers, with fair share fees capped at membership dues amounts and covering representation costs and contract administration.