Relating to state child care assistance for children of certain child care personnel

This bill relates to state child care assistance (CCA) for children of child care employees. The bill makes a child eligible for CCA if the child is in a family with a parent, guardian, or custodian who is employed at a child care facility, a child care home registered with the department of health and human services (HHS), or an unregistered child care home with an agreement with HHS to accept CCA reimbursements; works an average minimum of 32 hours per week during the month in a position with a primary duty of providing child care directly to children, and is regularly counted in the minimum child-to-staff ratio established by HHS by rule; does not provide child care to the parent, guardian, or custodian’s own child if the parent, guardian, or custodian is employed at a child care home or a child development home, though a co-provider at a child development home may qualify for CCA if the co-provider meets all requirements set in Code and by rule; is not a substitute or an assistant at a child development home; and has a need for child care based on HHS’s assessment. The bill provides that a director, co-director, or other administrative staff of a child care facility may qualify for CCA as a child care employee if such person is regularly counted in the minimum child-to-staff ratio established by HHS by rule. The bill requires a person who participates in CCA under the bill to make copayments for services received from the program. The bill directs HHS to adopt rules to implement and administer the bill. The bill prohibits HHS from applying waiting list requirements for CCA on persons deemed eligible for CCA under the bill.