H-8109

   Amend House File 2127 as follows:
   1.  Page 1, line 3, after <4A.> by inserting <a.>
   2.  Page 1, after line 9 by inserting: 
   <b.  The department shall inform families determined to be eligible for state child care assistance program benefits of all of the following:
   (1)  The additional fee allowed pursuant to paragraph “a” is not a requirement of the state child care assistance program, but is an additional fee a child care provider may choose to charge families participating in the program.
   (2)  If a child care provider chooses to charge a family participating in the program a fee pursuant to paragraph "a", the family may choose to pay the fee or use a different child care provider.
   (3)  A phone number a family participating in the program may call to file a complaint with the department.
   Sec. ___.  DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES —— INFORMATIONAL LETTER TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FAMILIES.  The department of human services shall send a letter to each family participating in the state child care assistance program as of the effective date of this Act that provides all of the following information to the family:
   1.  A child care provider may charge a family an additional fee that reflects the difference between the state child care assistance reimbursement rate and the child care provider’s private-pay rate. The additional fee is not a requirement of the child care assistance program but an additional fee a child care provider may choose to charge a family participating in the program.
   2.  If a child care provider chooses to charge a family participating in the program an additional fee as described in subsection 1, the family may choose to pay the fee or use a different child care provider.
   3.  A phone number the family may call to file a complaint with the department.>

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EHLERT of Linn