2015 -- H 5137

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD CARE STATE SUBSIDIES

     

     Introduced By: Representative Anastasia P.Williams

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 40-6.2-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6.2 entitled "Child

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Care-State Subsidies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40-6.2-1.1. Rates established. -- (a) Subject to the payment limitations in section (b), the

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maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children,

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youth and families for licensed child care centers and certified family-child care providers shall

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be based on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates

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adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

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LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS 75th PERCENTILE OF WEEKLY MARKET RATE

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INFANT $182.00

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PRESCHOOL $150.00

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SCHOOL-AGE $135.00

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CERTIFIED FAMILY 75th PERCENTILE OF WEEKLY MARKET RATE

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CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

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INFANT $150.00

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PRESCHOOL $150.00

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SCHOOL-AGE $135.00

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      (b) The department shall pay child care providers based on the lesser of the applicable

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rate specified in subsection (a), or the lowest rate actually charged by the provider to any of its

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public or private child care customers with respect to each of the rate categories, infant, preschool

 

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and school-age.

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     (c) By June 30, 2004 and biennially thereafter, the department of labor and training shall

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conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the then current weekly

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market rates for child care in Rhode Island and shall forward such weekly market rate survey to

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the department of human services. The departments of human services and labor and training will

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jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, rate categories and sub-

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categories. The 75th percentile of weekly market rates in the table in subsection (a) shall be

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adjusted by the surveys conducted under this subsection, beginning January 1, 2006 and for the

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purposes of this section, and until adjusted in accordance with this subsection, the 75th percentile

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of weekly market rate shall be the average of the 2002 and 2004 weekly market rate surveys.

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     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, beginning July 1, 2015, the

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weekly rates paid by the department of human services for infants, preschool, and school-age

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children shall be increased by forty-two dollars ($42.00).

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     (d)(e) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the

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department of human services is authorized to establish by regulation alternative or incentive

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rates of reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care and

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alternative methodologies of child care delivery, including non-traditional delivery systems and

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collaborations.

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     (e)(f) On or before January 1, 2007, all child care providers have the option to be paid

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every two (2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds

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transfer of reimbursement payments.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD CARE STATE SUBSIDIES

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     This act would increase the state subsidies for child care services by forty-two dollars

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($42.00) per week.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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