Relating to eligibility for state child care assistance

This bill relates to state child care assistance. The state child care assistance program is administered by the department of human services (DHS). DHS provides state child care assistance to families who meet eligibility guidelines under any of the following circumstances: the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is participating in approved academic, vocational, or technical training; the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is seeking employment; the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is employed and the family income meets income requirements; the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is absent for a limited period of time due to hospitalization, physical illness, or mental illness, or is present but is unable to care for the child for a limited period as verified by a physician; or the child needs protective services to prevent or alleviate child abuse or neglect. The bill expands these circumstances to include a child who needs crisis child care which is provided on a temporary basis, for a period not to exceed days, when there is reason to believe that the child’s welfare has been affected by domestic abuse in the child’s home. The bill directs DHS to amend its administrative rules related to state child care assistance to include such children.