|
2013 -- S 0736 | |
|
======= | |
|
LC02068 | |
|
======= | |
|
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
|
| |
|
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
|
| |
|
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
|
| |
|
____________ | |
|
| |
|
A N A C T | |
|
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE TRANSITION | |
|
PROGRAM | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Pichardo, Metts, Goldin, and Sosnowski | |
|
Date Introduced: March 13, 2013 | |
|
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
|
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
|
1-1 |
SECTION 1. Chapter 40-5.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Works |
|
1-2 |
Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
|
1-3 |
40-5.2-20.1. Pilot childcare assistance transition program established. -- (a) Findings. |
|
1-4 |
- Rhode Island provides childcare assistance to working families at or below one hundred eighty |
|
1-5 |
percent (180%) of the federal poverty level. Under current guidelines, if a member of the family |
|
1-6 |
is offered a raise, or is offered the opportunity to work additional hours, and the added income |
|
1-7 |
puts the family’s income even slightly over the threshold of eligibility; then the family stands to |
|
1-8 |
completely lose the child care assistance benefit. This structure potentially creates a financial |
|
1-9 |
disincentive to work and earn more. |
|
1-10 |
(b) Pilot Program. - To encourage the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars and promote |
|
1-11 |
economic self-sufficiency among working families receiving state child care, the director of the |
|
1-12 |
state department of human services, henceforth referred to as the "director," shall develop a plan |
|
1-13 |
for a pilot childcare assistance transition program whereby working families with incomes at or |
|
1-14 |
below one hundred eighty percent (180%) receiving childcare assistance under the terms of |
|
1-15 |
section 40-5.2-20 shall remain eligible for assistance so long as income is at or below two |
|
1-16 |
hundred twenty-five percent (225%) of the federal poverty level and provided that the family |
|
1-17 |
requires child care in order to work at paid employment. |
|
1-18 |
(c) Plan Submission. - The director shall submit a plan for the pilot childcare assistance |
|
1-19 |
transition program to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the |
|
2-1 |
majority leaders of the house and senate and the chairpersons of the house and senate finance |
|
2-2 |
committees by January 15, 2014. The plan shall include eligibility criteria for participation in the |
|
2-3 |
pilot program, the cost estimates to implement the program, the estimated increase in wages |
|
2-4 |
enabled through participation in the pilot program, and other information deemed necessary by |
|
2-5 |
the director. |
|
2-6 |
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
|
| |
|
======= | |
|
LC02068 | |
|
======= | |
|
EXPLANATION | |
|
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
|
OF | |
|
A N A C T | |
|
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE TRANSITION | |
|
PROGRAM | |
|
*** | |
|
3-1 |
This act would establish the pilot childcare assistance transition program. |
|
3-2 |
This act would take effect upon passage. |
|
| |
|
======= | |
|
LC02068 | |
|
======= |