(a) A family shall be recertified for services by the contractor no later than 50 calendar days following either:
(1) The last day of the 12-month period following the family's transfer from Stage 1 into Stage 2;
(2) The last day of the 12-month period following from the family's initial certification in Stage 2; or
(3) The last day of the 12-month period following the prior recertification in Stage 2, as applicable.
(b) In order to recertify a family, the contractor's designated staff person(s) authorized to certify family/child eligibility shall:
(1) Notify the parent in writing in the final 30 days of the 12-month certification period, which starts with the effective date of transfer or when the agency's authorized representative signed the last application for services, as applicable, of:
(A) The requirement that the family be recertified in order to receive ongoing services;
(B) The date that the recertification must be completed;
(C) The recertification appointment date, which can be no earlier than one day following the last day of the 12-month certification period;
(D) Information on the recertification process;
(E) Required information/documentation need for the recertification appointment;
(F) A telephone contact number and an optional email address in the event the parent may have any questions regarding the recertification process.
(2) Recertify or deny each family's/child's eligibility and need for early learning and care services after reviewing the completed application and documentation contained in the family data file, as provided for in chapter 19, subchapter 3, (commencing with section 18077); and.
(3) Issue a Notice of Action pursuant to section 18419 to recertify eligibility for services or to disenroll the family.
(c) Once recertified as meeting the criteria to receive services, and except as otherwise provided by law, the contractor shall consider the family to meet all eligibility and need requirements for another 12 months, at which point the family's eligibility and need must be recertified as set forth in this section.
(d) When a family is recertified as income eligible, the contractor shall, at the same time, provide notice to the family of the requirement to report if their income exceeds ongoing income eligibility limits, as provided in section 18410.2.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, disenrollment cannot occur prior to the end of the 12-month period, even if disqualifying information is discovered during the preliminary collection of documentation for certification, with the following exceptions:
(1) When the recalculation of income based on the provided documentation, indicates that the family's adjusted monthly income, adjusted for family size, exceeds the income threshold set forth in Education Code section 8263.1 and the family does not meet the requirements for another eligibility basis;
(2) When the parent changes residence outside of California, as reported by the parent; or
(3) When there is substantiated evidence of fraud that invalidates the initial certification or recertification; or
(4) When the family has abandoned care pursuant to section 18066.5.
(f) Families disenrolled prior to the last day of the 12-month certification period shall be issued a Notice of Action for disenrollment pursuant to section 18419.
(g) The contractor shall make every effort to make the recertification process convenient for families by providing early morning, evening, weekend appointments, or appointments at alternative locations as needed. The contractor may use technology to complete the recertification process if there is no other reasonable way for the family to complete the process in person.
