For the purposes of this article, needy children shall be defined as those children who meet federal eligibility criteria for free and reduced price meals as defined in Section 49531, except for family day care homes which shall be reimbursed for 75 percent of the meals.

The amendments to this section enacted by the Legislature in the 1982 portion of the 1981–82 Regular Session of the Legislature shall apply retroactively to July 1, 1981, to the extent that they may legally do so.