2014 -- S 2584

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LC004389

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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 -- CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE TRANSITION

PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Conley, Pichardo, Goldin, Metts, and Cool Rumsey

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 40-5.2 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Works

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Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     40-5.2-20.1. Pilot childcare assistance transition program established. -- (a) Findings.

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- Rhode Island provides childcare assistance to working families at or below one hundred eighty

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percent (180%) of the federal poverty level. Under current guidelines, if a member of the family

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is offered a raise, or is offered the opportunity to work additional hours, and the added income

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puts the family’s income even slightly over the threshold of eligibility; then the family stands to

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completely lose the child care assistance benefit. This structure potentially creates a financial

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disincentive to work and earn more.

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     (b) Pilot Program. - To encourage the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars and promote

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economic self-sufficiency among working families receiving state child care, the director of the

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state department of human services, henceforth referred to as the "director," shall develop a plan

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for a pilot childcare assistance transition program whereby working families with incomes at or

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below one hundred eighty percent (180%) receiving childcare assistance under the terms of § 40-

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5.2-20 shall remain eligible for assistance so long as income is at or below two hundred twenty-

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five percent (225%) of the federal poverty level and provided that the family requires child care

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in order to work at paid employment.

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     (c) Plan Submission. - The director shall submit a plan for the pilot childcare assistance

 

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transition program to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the

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majority leaders of the house and senate and the chairpersons of the house and senate finance

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committees by January 15, 2015. The plan shall include eligibility criteria for participation in the

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pilot program, the cost estimates to implement the program, the estimated increase in wages

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enabled through participation in the pilot program, and other information deemed necessary by

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the director.

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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 -- CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE TRANSITION

PROGRAM

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     This act would establish the pilot childcare assistance transition program.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004389

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