2014 -- H 7806

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LC005003

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - CHILD CARE SERVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Serpa, O'Brien, Tanzi, and Hearn

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     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 CHILD CARE PERCENTILE CENTERS OF WEEKLY 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 for the

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

of weekly market rate shall 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) Child care providers may submit invoices for services provided to the department of

human services up to sixty (60) days subsequent to the provision of those services. Should the

department and/or child care providers require additional information or clarification of an

invoice submitted by a child care provider, there shall be an additional sixty (60) day period from

the date of the request for the child care provider to respond.

     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 SERVICES

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     This act would allow child care providers up to sixty (60) days to submit an invoice to

human services for payment for child care services provided and an additional sixty (60) days for

the resolution of questions and disputes regarding the invoices.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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