WHEREAS, the Commonwealth began piloting in 2007 a quality-rating-improvement system for child-care providers; and

WHEREAS, other states have improved the quality of their child-care services through implementation of a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program based on a quality-rating-improvement system, which offers higher subsidy payments to child-care providers that meet higher standards of care; and

WHEREAS, utilization of a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program based on a quality-rating-improvement system in the Commonwealth may improve the quality of its child-care services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Social Services be requested to study a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program for child-care providers.

In conducting its study, the Department of Social Services shall (i) identify and compare strategies for implementation of a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program based on a quality-rating-improvement system for child-care providers in the Commonwealth; (ii) determine the resources required to implement and sustain such strategies; (iii) explore the potential effects of implementing a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program in the Commonwealth, including any impact on the supply of quality child-care services, potential financial implications for child-care services on families, and providers, effects on existing programs, such as the Child Care Subsidy Program, effects on the licensure of child-care providers, and the implications of applicable federal and state laws and regulations; and (iv) examine other states that utilize a tiered-reimbursement subsidy program, including implementation strategies and results.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Department of Social Services by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Social Services for this study, upon request.

The Department of Social Services shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2014, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.