2017 -- H 6048

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LC002347

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - CHILD CARE - STATE SUBSIDIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Blazejewski, Ruggiero, and Maldonado

     Date Introduced: March 31, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 40-6.2-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6.2 entitled "Child

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Care-State Subsidies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     40-6.2-1.1. Rates established.

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     (a) Through June 30, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in section (b), the

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maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children,

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youth and families for licensed child care centers and certified family-child care providers shall

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be based on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates

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adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

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LICENSED 75th

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CHILD CARE PERCENTILE

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CENTERS OF WEEKLY

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MARKET RATE

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INFANT $182.00

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PRESCHOOL $150.00

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SCHOOL-AGE $135.00

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FAMILY PERCENTILE

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CHILD CARE OF WEEKLY

 

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PROVIDERS MARKET RATE

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INFANT $150.00

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PRESCHOOL $150.00

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SCHOOL-AGE $135.00

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reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and

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families for licensed child care centers and certified family-child care providers shall be based on

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the above schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the

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average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates. These rates shall be

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increased by ten dollars ($10.00) per week for infant/toddler care provided by certified family-

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child care providers and license-exempt providers and then the rates for all providers for all age

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groups shall be increased by three percent (3%).

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     (b) The department shall pay child care providers based on the lesser of the applicable

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rate specified in subsection (a), or the lowest rate actually charged by the provider to any of its

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public or private child care customers with respect to each of the rate categories, infant, preschool

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and school-age.

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     In order to support equal access to high-quality child care for children enrolled in the

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child care assistance program and to recognize that higher quality child care programs need

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additional resources to attract and retain effective and qualified staff to meet quality benchmarks

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in BrightStars, the state's quality rating and improvement system, the following tiered-rate

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structure is hereby established effective July 1, 2017. The reimbursement rates to be paid by the

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department of human services and children, youth and families to licensed child care centers and

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family child care homes shall incentivize and support quality child care with rates for high-quality

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programs meeting national recommendations (at or above the 75th percentile of the 2015 Rhode

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Island child care market rate survey). Rates shall be revised when new market rate survey data is

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available.

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LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS

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BrightStars Rating

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1 star 2 stars 3 stars 4 stars 5 stars

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Infant-Toddler $203.32 $213.00 $232.37 $251.73 $271.10

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Preschool $169.80 $177.88 $194.05 $210.22 $226.39

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School-age $153.57 $160.89 $175.51 $190.14 $204.76

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LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

 

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BrightStars Rating

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1 star 2 stars 3 stars 4 stars 5 stars

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Infant-Toddler $178.45 $186.95 $203.94 $220.94 $237.93

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Preschool $162.23 $177.88 $194.05 $210.22 $226.39

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School-age $153.57 $160.89 $175.51 $190.14 $204.76

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     (c)(b) By June 30, 2004 and biennially through June 30, 2014, the The department of

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labor and training shall conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the

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then current weekly market rates for child care in Rhode Island triennially and shall forward such

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weekly market rate survey to the department of human services. The next survey shall be

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conducted by June 30, 2016 June 30, 2018, and triennially thereafter. The departments of human

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services and labor and training will jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not limited

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to, rate categories and sub-categories.

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     (d)(c) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the

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department of human services is authorized to establish by regulation alternative or incentive

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rates of reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care and

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alternative methodologies of child care delivery, including non-traditional delivery systems and

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collaborations.

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     (e)(d) On or before January 1, 2007, all child care providers have the option to be paid

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every two (2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds

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transfer of reimbursement payments.

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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 - CHILD CARE - STATE SUBSIDIES

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     This act would establish a tiered-rate structure for the child care assistance program, with

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higher rates paid to licensed child care centers and family child care homes that have achieved

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higher quality ratings in "BrightStars", the state's quality rating and improvement system.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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