HF 321 (LSB 1589YH (6) 87)

HOUSE FILE 321

BY  NIELSEN, STAED, HANSON, JACOBY, R. SMITH, BRECKENRIDGE, MEYER, MASCHER, LENSING, WINCKLER, ANDERSON, BENNETT, WOLFE, M. SMITH, HUNTER, T. TAYLOR, BEARINGER, GASKILL, OLDSON, STECKMAN, and KURTH

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to state child care assistance, including income eligibility and waiting list guidelines and copayment requirements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 237A.13, subsection 7, paragraph c, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  Families with an income of more than one hundred percent but not more than one two hundred forty-five percent of the federal poverty level whose members, for at least twenty-eight hours per week in the aggregate, are employed or are participating at a satisfactory level in an approved training program or educational program.
    Sec. 2.  DIRECTIVE TO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES —— CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.
   1.  The department of human services shall amend its administrative rules pursuant to chapter 17A to do all of the following:
   a.  Provide income eligibility for state child care assistance, according to family size for children needing basic care, to families whose nonexempt gross monthly income does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
   b.  Adjust the state child care assistance copayment schedule in incrementally increased amounts for families whose nonexempt gross monthly income does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
   2.  The rules adopted pursuant to this section shall take effect January 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to state child care assistance, including income eligibility and waiting list guidelines and copayment requirements.
   The state child care assistance program is administered by the department of human services. Based upon the availability of the funding appropriated for state child care assistance for a fiscal year, the department establishes waiting lists for state child care assistance in descending order of prioritization. Under current law, one of the waiting list requirements relates to families with an income of more than 100 percent but not more than 145 percent of the federal poverty level whose members, for at least 28 hours per week in the aggregate, are employed or are participating at a satisfactory level in an approved training program or educational program. The bill increases this waiting list income eligibility limit from 145 percent to 200 percent.
   The bill directs the department of human services to amend its administrative rules to provide income eligibility for state child care assistance, according to family size for children needing basic care, to families whose nonexempt gross monthly income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill also directs the department to adjust the state child care assistance copayment schedule in incrementally increased amounts for such families. The administrative rules adopted by the department shall be effective January 1, 2018.