Missouri Senate

Senate Committee Substitute

QUALITY RATING SYSTEM

This act requires the Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Mental Health to develop by September 1, 2008, a quality rating system for early childhood and before-and after-school programs licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services that operate in this state. The licensing of such facilities shall be the baseline, while the highest rating includes accreditation. The departments shall utilize the model from the existing Missouri quality rating system pilots developed by the University of Missouri Center for Family Policy and Research to establish the system. The system will allow consumers and parents to evaluate and select high quality programs and creates a system of accountability for policymakers and those who fund such programs.

By July 1, 2011, all licensed child care facilities voluntarily receiving quality improvement funds and services shall, upon the facilities' request, be rated using the quality rating system established under this act. The Coordinating Board of Early Childhood shall develop a plan for a tiered system of reimbursement for child care subsidies based on the quality rating system established under this act. The proposed plan shall be submitted to the General Assembly with recommendations for implementation of the reimbursement system by December 31, 2009. The plan shall only become effective upon passage of a concurrent resolution by the General Assembly authorizing the implementation of the plan.

The Quality Rating System Program Improvement Grant Fund is established and shall consist of all gifts, donations, transfers, moneys appropriated by the general assembly, and bequests to the fund. Money in the fund shall be used to provide grants directly to licensed providers seeking assistance for quality improvements to undergo evaluation under the quality rating system established under this act or to community-based organizations assisting providers with such improvements.

The Department of Social Services in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Senior Services, and Elementary and Secondary Education shall be responsible for promoting and distributing materials to educate the public and providers about the quality rating system established under this act. By January 1, 2010, the ratings of the quality rating system shall be posted on the Internet in a format easily understood and accessible by the public.

The provisions relating to the quality rating system shall sunset in six years. These provisions are similar to SB 161 (2007).

CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES

This act provides that the Children's Division within the Department of Social Services, shall develop rules to become effective by July 1, 2009, modifying the income eligibility criteria for any person receiving state-funded child care assistance, either through vouchers or direct reimbursement to child care providers.

Persons receiving state-funded child care assistance with family incomes of less than 140 percent of the federal poverty level shall receive child care subsidy benefits, less a sliding scale fee established by the division based on family size and income.

A person receiving state-funded child care assistance and whose income surpasses 140 percent of the federal poverty level may continue to receive reduced subsidy benefits on a scale established by the division until such person's income reaches 185 percent of the federal poverty level. At such time, the person will have assumed the full cost of the maximum base child care subsidy rate established by the children's division and shall no longer be eligible for child care subsidy benefits.

If appropriations in a given fiscal year are insufficient to provide the subsidy established under this act for all eligible recipients, the division shall establish a waiting list and promulgate rules for the prioritization of eligible recipients on the waiting list. The sliding fee scale may be waived for children with special needs.

By July 1, 2009, the Children's Division shall be required to reimburse all licensed child care providers serving families receiving state-funded child care assistance at the current market rate for child care as established by the division's biennial state market rate survey.

The provisions relating to child care subsidies are similar to SB 776 (2008).

ADRIANE CROUSE