(b) The department may operate a substitute child care employee registry pilot program for the purposes of subdivision (a) and may charge participating registry facilities an administrative fee. The pilot program is subject to all of the following:

1. (1) The pilot program shall be limited to screening employees for facilities licensed as child care facilities.
2. (2) Registries shall not hire any child care worker for employment at a child care facility who requires an exemption from the criminal background clearance requirements of law.
3. (3) The department shall only guarantee the authenticity of criminal background and child abuse index information that registries provide to child care facilities. Any other information provided by registries may be verified by child care facility operators.
4. (4) The department may limit the operation of the pilot program to the Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Ventura.