HSB 233

This bill relates to state child care assistance eligibility requirements and child care provider reimbursement rates. The bill defines “child needing special needs care” or “special needs child” as a child that has been diagnosed by a physician or by a person endorsed for service as a school psychologist by the department of education to have a developmental disability which substantially limits one or more major life activities, and the child requires professional treatment, assistance in self-care, or the purchase of special adaptive equipment; determined by a qualified intellectual disability professional to have a condition which impairs the child’s intellectual and social functioning; diagnosed by a mental health professional to have a behavioral or emotional disorder characterized by situationally inappropriate behavior which deviates substantially from behavior appropriate to the child’s age, or which significantly interferes with the child’s intellectual, social, or personal development; or a combination of these conditions. The bill requires a child’s parent, guardian, or custodian who is employed to work a minimum of hours per week or an average of hours per week during the month in order to be eligible for state child care assistance. _____ eligible for state child care assistance if the family’s gross monthly income does not exceed the lesser of: 1) 155 percent of the federal poverty level applicable to the family size for children needing basic care, 2) 200 percent of the federal poverty level applicable to the family size for children needing special needs care, or 3) percent of the state median gross monthly income. The bill prohibits the department of health and human services (HHS) and the director of HHS from changing, providing waivers regarding, or making policy exceptions regarding reimbursement rates for child care providers reimbursed under the state child care assistance program or eligibility requirements for a family participating in the state child care assistance program without prior enabling legislation in this state passed on or after January 1, 2023. The bill directs HHS to implement various half-day reimbursement rate increases to child care providers reimbursed under the state child care assistance program.13(3) to reflect HHS’s ability to set rates only when authorized by prior enabling legislation passed on or after January 1, 2023.