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:

     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 CHILD CARE CENTERS 75th PERCENTILE OF WEEKLY MARKET RATE

INFANT $182.00

PRESCHOOL $150.00

SCHOOL-AGE $135.00

CERTIFIED FAMILY 75th PERCENTILE OF WEEKLY MARKET RATE

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

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

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

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

     (d)(e) 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)(f) 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.

     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

($42.00) per week.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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