2015 -- S 0484 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 -- RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Metts, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     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) On or before October 31, 2015, the department of human services shall develop and

submit to the general assembly and the governor a proposal for licensed child care centers and

family child care providers to develop a system of tiered reimbursement rates with higher rates

being issued to programs recognized as "higher quality" by the department's quality rating and

improvement system. Provided further, the plan shall include specific programs to support quality

improvement and advancement in the department's quality rating system. Said programs shall

include, but not be limited to, the following:

     (1) Comprehensive workforce development programs to assist licensed child care

providers to pursue high school equivalency diplomas, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees,

college credits in early child care and education, and any other program the director shall approve

or deem necessary.

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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 -- RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

***

     This act would require the department of human services to establish and submit to the

general assembly and the governor, a reimbursement rate plan based on the quality of the licensed

child and family care centers to be determined by the department's quality and rating system.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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