HCS HB 387 -- QUALITY RATING SYSTEM FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES

SPONSOR:  Wallace (Cooper)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elementary
and Secondary Education by a vote of 11 to 1.

This substitute 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, 2009, a quality rating system for early childhood
and before- and after-school programs that are licensed by the
Department of Health and Senior Services.  The Department of
Social Services must use the model developed by the University of
Missouri Center for Family Policy and Research to establish the
rating system.  The rating system will allow evaluation and
selection of high-quality programs, create an accountability
system for policymakers and funders, and guide providers through
a system of increasing levels of quality with specific outcomes
for child care.

By July 1, 2014, subject to appropriations, all licensed
facilities receiving direct moneys or services must be rated
under the system; the program remains voluntary for other
licensed facilities.  The Coordinating Board for Early Childhood
within the Children's Services Commission must develop a plan for
a tiered rating system of reimbursement for child care subsidies
based on the rating system for licensed facilities that receive
funding or services to improve the quality of their programs.  By
December 31, 2010, a proposed plan with recommendations for
implementation of the reimbursement system must be submitted to
the General Assembly.  The plan will become effective upon
authorization by the General Assembly.

The substitute creates the Quality Rating System Program
Improvement Fund administered by the Department of Social
Services to provide grants to licensed providers to make quality
improvements to comply with the rating system or to community-
based organizations assisting providers with the improvements.
The funds will be administered by the department through
contracts with nongovernmental organizations, which will provide
the quality improvement services of training and technical
assistance directly to programs statewide and establish a quality
improvement panel to review grant applications and determine
funding.  Grants must be awarded in a geographically diverse
manner.

The Department of Social Services, in collaboration with the
departments of Health and Senior Services, Mental Health, and
Elementary and Secondary Education, will be responsible for
collecting, developing, and distributing materials to educate the
public and early childhood and before- and after-school programs
about the quality rating system and posting the ratings on the
Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network web site by
December 31, 2014.

The provisions regarding the child care quality rating system
will expire six years from the effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Unknown
but Greater than $759,911 in FY 2010, Unknown but Greater than
$3,432,115 in FY 2011, and Unknown but Greater than $5,149,796 in
FY 2012.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that a rating system will help
parents find the best value for their money.  The rating system
will provide a ladder for caregivers to improve services
incrementally.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cooper; Kathy
Thornburg; Meg Bartlett, Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning
Center; Carol Scott, Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral
Network; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Citizens for
Missouri's Children; Missouri National Education Association;
Missouri Association for Community Action; Missouri State
Teachers Association; Missouri Federation of Teachers and School
Related Personnel; Missouri Municipal League; and Partnership for
Children.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am