Bill Text: DE HB331 | 2009-2010 | 145th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 31 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Child Care Quality And The Establishment Of Tiered Reimbursements Based On Quality Of Care.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-11 - Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House [HB331 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2009-HB331-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Rep. George & Sen. Blevins Reps. Schooley Hudson Jaques J. Johnson Kovach ;Sens. Hall-Long Henry McDowell

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 331

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE QUALITY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TIERED REIMBURSEMENTS BASED ON QUALITY OF CARE.

WHEREAS, Purchase of Care allows parents of small children to return to the work force by providing much needed child care; and

WHEREAS, over the past twelve years, funding for the system has eroded to the point where dramatic steps must be taken to ensure that quality child care is available for children regardless of their socio-economic status; and

WHEREAS, subsidized child care programs are an important component of the system of services for young children and their families; and

WHEREAS, children whose economic status places them as the most at-risk in Delaware are at a greater risk of entering kindergarten developmentally behind their peers; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary that Delaware provide at-risk children and their families adequately financed subsidized child care programs that support their growth and development through quality care and education; and

WHEREAS, Delaware Stars for Early Success, a quality rating and improvement system, is a public-private partnership; and

WHEREAS, Vision 2015 has embraced the importance of quality early childhood experiences and program accountability as measured through Delaware Stars for Early Success; and

WHEREAS, United Way of Delaware, Success By 6™, supports high quality early childhood experiences for all children in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, tiered reimbursement systems improve child care quality by offering an incentive to providers who exceed compliance with basic licensing standards;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.Amend §392, Title 31 of the Delaware Code by designating the existing text of that subsection, as subsection "(a)".

Section 2.Amend §392, Title 31 of the Delaware Code by adding a new subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b)The Division shall establish a minimum of five tiers of child care reimbursements based on quality of care. These tiers will be reimbursed based on the prevailing fair market rate, as established by the Market Rate study conducted by the Division of Social Services every two years:Star 1 at the current reimbursement rate; Star 2 at 75% of the prevailing fair market rate; Star 3 at 85% of the prevailing fair market rate; Star 4 at 93% of the prevailing fair market rate; and Star 5 at 100% of the prevailing fair market rate.".

Section 3.The Division of Social Services shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act. This quality rating and improvement system, Delaware Stars for Early Success, shall be adopted with advisement from the Division of Social Services, Division of Public Health, Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing, and early care and education community members.Reports will be submitted to the Delaware Early Care and Education Council on an annual basis.Delaware Stars for Early Success will be available to all child care programs (family child care, large family child care, early care and education and school-age centers) licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing, building upon regulations set by the Office and quality standards in the following categories:

• Qualifications and Professional Development;

• Learning Environment and Curriculum;

• Family and Community Partnerships; and

• Management and Administration.

Section 4.This Act shall begin implementation within one year of enactment, with a Six Year Phase-In of Delaware Stars, FY 11 through FY 17:Year 1: Mandatory Participation for all Early Childhood Assistance Programs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and Voluntary Participation for up to 5% of other programs; Year 2: Mandatory Participation for all Preschool Special Education (619) programs and all child care centers > 90% POC enrollment, and Voluntary Participation for up to an additional 10% of other programs; Year 3: Mandatory Participation for all child care centers > 75% POC and all family and large family child care programs > 90% POC, and Voluntary Participation for up to an additional 15% of other programs; Year 4: Mandatory Participation for all child care centers > 50% POC and all family and large family child care programs > 75% POC, and Voluntary Participation for up to an additional 30% of other programs; Year 5: Mandatory Participation for all child care centers > 25% POC and all family and large family child care programs > 50% POC, and Voluntary Participation for up to an additional 45% of other programs; Year 6: Mandatory Participation for all child care centers and family and large family child care programs with POC children enrolled, and Voluntary Participation open to all interested programs.

SYNOPSIS

This Bill requires that a minimum of five escalating tiers of reimbursement for care be established based on quality of care, and that the Division of Social Services promulgate regulations to implement this Act.