Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to improve the child care assistance program in Minnesota by modifying existing requirements, implementing new strategies for providing direct services, and ensuring fair payment practices for child care providers. The bill also seeks to simplify and streamline eligibility determinations to minimize disruptions for families.

Main Provisions

• Child Care Grants and Contracts: Introduces direct child care services through grants for families in underserved areas, with infants and toddlers, or with children with disabilities.
• Eligibility Redeterminations: Adjusts the process so eligibility is reassessed every 12 months, and aligns redetermination schedules for families with multiple children to minimize disruptions.
• Parent Fee Adjustments: Updates the fee schedule based on income and ensures some families, like those experiencing homelessness, are exempt from fees.
• Payment Rates and Provider Reimbursement: Allows counties to pay child care providers higher rates even if it's more than what private clients pay and mandates timely reimbursement practices.
• Reporting and Documentation: Providers must submit service bills within set periods, and the commissioner can withhold payments for non-compliance or false billing.
• Background Studies: Requires completion of background studies for individuals involved in child care services before they can begin working unsupervised.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Repeal of Previous Provisions: Removes the limitation on reimbursable absent days for licensed and license-exempt child care settings, impacting rules on holiday reimbursements and absent day policies.
• New Reporting Requirements: The Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families must report on the progress of implementing streamlined application processes and on provider payment practices.
• Enhanced Flexibility in Grants: Establishes a grant program specifically targeting underserved families, adapting the assistance program more closely to community needs.

Relevant Terms

• Child care assistance, underserved areas, eligibility redetermination, parent fees, provider reimbursement, background check compliance, absent days policy, grant program, direct child care services.