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SPONSOR: |
Swisstack |
DATE TYPED: |
|
HB |
707 |
||
SHORT TITLE: |
Increase Rates Paid to Child Care Programs |
SB |
|
||||
|
ANALYST: |
Chabot |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
$400.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
General
Fund |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
LFC Files
Responses
Received From
Children,
Youth and Families Department (CYFD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Bill 707
appropriates $400.0 from the general fund to CYFD for the purpose of increasing
the differential rates paid to childcare programs based on demonstrated levels
of quality by participation in the Aim High program or through national
accreditation. The bill does not specify
amounts the differential will increase to individual providers; CYFD will have
to make that determination through the rule-making process.
Significant Issues
The Aim High program is designed to improve the
quality of childcare by offering providers program development consultation as
they work toward quality levels and accreditation.
There are five levels of participation from
lowest to highest: program
administration; environment and curriculum; professional development; ratios;
and national accreditation. Each level
has specific indicators that must be met before moving to the next level.
Differential rates are added to the administrative
base per month per child and are as follows:
Level
3: Professional development $16.50
Level
4: Ratios $33.00
Level
5: National accreditation $66.00
The increase in differential rates resulting
from the appropriation in this bill has not been determined by CYFD; however,
an increase in the differential should encourage childcare providers to
participate in the Aim High program.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of
$400.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance
remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
CYFD childcare
assistance regulation will need to be revised to reflect the new rates.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
CYFD states “when
state government increase childcare rates, there is the potential for an increase
in childcare rates for non-CYFD families impacting accessibility and
affordability of childcare services to the general public.”
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
GAC/sb