HSB 729 (LSB 6354YC (5) 90)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MOHR)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to state child care assistance program reimbursement rates and eligibility for the children of certain child care providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES —— REIMBURSEMENT RATES AND ELIGIBILITY —— STATE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE.
   1.  The department of health and human services shall amend its administrative rules pursuant to chapter 17A to set the half-day reimbursement rates paid to child care providers reimbursed under the state child care assistance program to at least the sixty-fifth percentile, but no more than the eightieth percentile, of the 2024 market rate survey conducted by the department to analyze and evaluate the market rate of child care services throughout the state.
   2.  a.  The department of health and human services shall extend the child care workforce one-year pilot program for the state child care assistance program, implemented by the department of health and human services beginning July 5, 2023, until July 4, 2025.
   b.  The department of health and human services shall publish data relating to children and families who receive state child care assistance under paragraph “a” through utilization of modernized, interactive displays found on the department’s internet site.
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 program (CCA) reimbursement rates and eligibility for the children of certain child care providers.
   The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to set half-day reimbursement rates for child care providers participating in the CCA program to at least the 65th percentile, but not more than the 80th percentile, of the 2024 market rate survey conducted by HHS to analyze and evaluate the market rate of child care services throughout the state.
   On July 5, 2023, HHS initiated a one-year pilot program that allows children of certain full-time child care providers to qualify for CCA. The bill directs HHS to extend the pilot program until July 4, 2025, and requires HHS to publish data relating to children and families who receive CCA through the pilot program through utilization of modernized, interactive displays found on the department’s internet site.