ARTICLE 27 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
RELATING TO CHILD CARE -- STATE SUBSIDIES
SECTION
1. Section 40-6.2-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6.2 entitled “Child
Care – State Subsidies” is hereby amended to read as follows:
40-6.2-1.1. Rates Established.
– (a) Subject to the payment
limitations in section (b), the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the
departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed
child care centers and certified family-child care providers shall be based on
the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market
rates adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002
and the 2004 weekly market rates:
LICENSED 75th PERCENTILE
CHILD CARE OF WEEKLY
CENTERS MARKET RATE
INFANT $182.00
PRESCHOOL $150.00
SCHOOL-AGE $135.00
CERTIFIED 75th
FAMILY PERCENTILE
CHILD CARE OF WEEKLY
PROVIDERS MARKET RATE
INFANT $150.00
PRESCHOOL $150.00
SCHOOL-AGE $135.00
(b) The department shall pay child care providers based on the lesser of the applicable rate specified in subsection (a), or the lowest rate actually charged by the provider to any of its public or private child care customers with respect to each of the rate categories, infant, preschool and school-age.
(c) By June 30, 2004 and biennially
thereafter, the department of labor and training shall conduct an independent
survey or certify an independent survey of the then current weekly market rates
for child care in Rhode Island and shall forward such weekly market rate survey
to the department of human services. The departments of human services and labor
and training will jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not
limited to, rate categories and sub-categories. The 75th percentile of weekly
market rates in the table in subsection (a) shall be adjusted by the surveys
conducted under this subsection, beginning January 1, 2006 and biennially
thereafter; provided, however, that the weekly market rates in the table in
subsection (a) shall be adjusted by the 2006 market rate survey beginning July
1, 2007. For for the purposes of this section, and until adjusted in
accordance with this subsection, the 75th percentile of weekly market rate
shall mean the 2002 department of human services child care market survey.
be the average of the 2002 and 2004 weekly market rate surveys.
(d) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the department of human services is authorized to establish by regulation alternative or incentive rates of reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care and alternative methodologies of child care delivery, including non-traditional delivery systems and collaborations.
(e) On or before January 1, 2007, all child care providers have the option to be paid every two (2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of reimbursement payments.
(f) Beginning on September 1, 2006,
the department of human services shall report monthly to the chairpersons of
the house and senate finance committees on the implementation of this subsection.
SECTION 2. This article shall take effect as of July 1,
2008.