Bill > A4221

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a review of the reimbursement rates paid by the State's child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program to ensure that the reimbursement rates adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours. If, based on the review, the DHS determines that the reimbursement rates are not adequate to compensate child providers offering services during non-traditional hours, the DHS is to seek out and apply for all sources of federal funding necessary to allow the State's child care assistance program to compensate such providers, including, but limited to, applying for such State plan amendments or waivers as may necessary to secure federal financial participation for State expenditures under the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The bill also stipulates the DHS to: 1) prepare a written report of the review conducted pursuant to the bill; 2) post a copy of the report on its Internet website, and 3) upon request, provide a copy of the report to child care providers participating in the State's child care assistance program. The bill is to expire upon issuance of the written report of review conducted pursuant to its provisions. Currently, reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program to child care providers participating in the program compensate such providers for approximately seven hours of operation. However child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours, including, but not limited to, early morning and late evening hours, to accommodate working parents, face additional expenses because they do not receive reimbursement to operate extended hours. It is the sponsor's intent to allow the State to pursue additional funding if the review required under this bill reveals that the reimbursement rates paid by the child care assistance program do not adequately compensate child care providers offering services during non-traditional hours.

Committee Categories

Annette Quijano (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Shavonda Sumter (D)*,  Reginald Atkins (D),  Garnet Hall (D),  Gabriel Rodriguez (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (on 05/02/2024)

Official Document