SF 352 (LSB 1290XS (7) 91)

SENATE FILE 352

BY  PETERSEN, WINCKLER, DONAHUE, STAED, BLAKE, TRONE GARRIOTT, BENNETT, ZIMMER, DOTZLER, TOWNSEND, and CELSI

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to state child care assistance program benefits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 237A.13, subsection 5, Code 2025, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
   5.  a.  The department shall remit payment to a provider prior to the provider rendering child care to a child enrolled in the state child care assistance program.
   b.  The department shall remit payment on a monthly basis and the payment shall be based on the number of hours a child is scheduled to receive child care from the provider, and not the number of hours a child actually receives child care services from the provider.
   c.  Any copayment a family participating in the state child care assistance program is required to pay as a condition of participation in the state child care assistance program shall be made after the family’s child receives child care services.
    Sec. 2.  Section 237A.13, subsection 8, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  A temporarily enrolled child under section 237A.15.
    Sec. 3.  Section 237A.13, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9A.  State child care assistance benefits for a child enrolled in the state child care assistance program shall not terminate unless all of the following apply:
   a.  The department sent written notification to the child’s family and the child’s child care provider explaining the reasons for terminating the child’s benefits.
   b.  At least thirty calendar days have passed since the date the department sent the written notice required under paragraph “a”.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  237A.15  Child care assistance —— temporary enrollment.
   1.  Notwithstanding section 237A.13, subsections 1 and 2, a child shall be temporarily enrolled in the state child care assistance program if all of the following apply:
   a.  The child has at least one sibling that is currently enrolled in the state child care assistance program.
   b.  The provider providing child care to the child’s sibling agreed to provide child care to the child and notified the department of the provider’s agreement. The department shall approve a child as temporarily enrolled in the state child care assistance program within one business day of the date the department received notification, and shall send notice of approval to the provider and the child’s family.
   c.  The child’s family shall have twenty-one calendar days from the date the department approved the child’s temporary enrollment to submit an application to enroll the child in the state child care assistance program under section 237A.13. The department shall have five business days from the date the department receives the application to render a decision on the application.
   d.  A child’s temporary enrollment shall end if the child’s family does not apply for the state child care assistance program under paragraph “c”, or the department renders a decision on the child’s application for the state child care assistance program.
   2.  Notwithstanding section 237A.13, subsection 5, the department shall remit payment to a provider for child care provided to a temporarily enrolled child within one calendar week of either of the following, whichever occurs earlier:
   a.  Twenty-one calendar days after the date the department approved the child’s temporary enrollment.
   b.  The date the child’s temporary enrollment ends.
   3.  This section shall not be construed to require a provider to provide child care to a child prior to the department approving the child as temporarily enrolled pursuant to subsection 1.
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 (CCA) program benefits.
   Under current law, the CCA program reimburses child care providers (providers) after the department of health and human services (HHS) receives a bill from the provider based on the amount of time a child enrolled in the program actually attended child care with that provider. The bill requires HHS to remit payment to a provider prior to the provider rendering child care to a child enrolled in the CCA program. Payments must be made on a monthly basis and must be based on the amount of hours a child is scheduled to receive child care from the provider and not the number of hours a child actually receives child care services. Any copayment a family participating in the CCA program is required to pay as a condition of participation must be made after the family’s child receives child care.
   The bill prohibits a child’s CCA benefits from terminating unless HHS sends written notification to the child’s family and the child’s provider explaining the reasons for terminating the child’s benefits, and at least 30 calendar days have passed since the date HHS sent the written notices.
   The bill temporarily enrolls a child in the CCA program if the child has at least one sibling that is currently enrolled in the CCA program, the provider providing child care to the child’s sibling agreed to provide child care to the child, and the provider notified HHS of the provider’s agreement. HHS must approve a child as temporarily enrolled in the CCA program within one business day of receiving the provider’s notification. HHS must send notification of approval to the provider and the child’s family. The bill provides a temporarily enrolled child’s family 21 calendar days from the date HHS approved the child’s temporary enrollment to submit an application to enroll the child in the CCA program. HHS has five business days from the date HHS receives the application to render a decision.
   The bill ends a child’s temporary enrollment if the child’s family does not apply for the CCA program within 21 calendar days from the date HHS approves the child’s temporary enrollment or HHS renders a decision on the child’s application for the CCA program.
   The bill requires HHS to make payment to a provider for child care provided to a temporarily enrolled child within one calendar week of the 21st day after HHS approved the child’s temporary enrollment or when the child’s temporary enrollment ends, whichever is earlier.
   The bill is not to be construed to require a provider to provide child care to a child prior to HHS approving the child as temporarily enrolled.
   The bill makes temporarily enrolled children exempt from waiting list requirements for the CCA program.