Bill > SF2937

This bill modifies several aspects of Minnesota's child care assistance program to improve accessibility and support for families. The bill expands the income range for parent fees, reducing the percentage families pay relative to their income, and eliminates parent fees entirely for families experiencing homelessness, families with children with disabilities, families enrolled in Head Start, and children in foster or kinship care. It allows counties to align eligibility periods for multiple children in the same family and provides more flexibility in redetermination processes. The bill also introduces provisions for direct child care services through grants targeting underserved geographic areas, families with infants and toddlers, and families with children with disabilities. Additionally, the bill modifies provider payment practices, allowing counties to pay child care providers the maximum subsidy rate even if it exceeds their standard rate, and requires the commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to implement policies that minimize disruptions to parents' employment, education, or training opportunities. The bill includes several directives for the commissioner to evaluate and improve the child care assistance program, such as simplifying the application process, ensuring generally accepted payment practices, and exploring ways to streamline eligibility determinations across different economic assistance programs.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF2937&ssn=0&y=2025