Committee moves bill to create state early‑childhood integrated data system under CDSS

AB 2092 would give the California Department of Social Services statutory authority to manage a statewide Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) that links data across agencies serving children from birth to age 5; it also creates an interagency task force for governance and requires reporting and privacy safeguards.

Missy Coffey, executive director of the EC Data Lab, told the committee California has piloted components and built IT infrastructure, but no agency currently has authority to integrate data across programs. Coffey urged clear use cases tied to policy decisions, stakeholder engagement including families and providers, a sustained funding and resources plan, and strong privacy protections. Mario Snow of Californians Together said persistent fragmentation and repeated short‑term investments leave the state without the longitudinal data needed to identify disparities in access and outcomes.

Why it matters: Supporters said an ECIDS is necessary to track early childhood participation, identify child‑care deserts, measure outcomes by race and income, and improve program targeting. Witnesses emphasized that integrated, de‑identified data can help answer long‑term policy questions and improve program alignment, but warned a data system without clear use cases and protections risks wasted resources or privacy harms.

Committee action: Members thanked the author and technical witnesses and moved AB 2092 to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee for further review, including privacy committee engagement on recommended protections.

Next steps: The privacy committee and Appropriations staff (as relevant) will consider privacy, statutory authority, reporting requirements and any appropriation requests.