HCS SS SCS SB 726 -- CHILD CARE

SPONSOR:  Shields (Franz)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Family Services by a vote of 7 to 2.

This substitute changes the laws regarding child care subsidies,
a child care quality rating system, and youth development
programs.

CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES

By July 1, 2012, the substitute requires the Children's Division
within the Department of Social Services to modify the income
eligibility criteria for receiving financial assistance for child
care by allowing families with an income below 160% of the
federal poverty level to receive subsidy benefits, subject to
appropriations.  The benefits will be distributed on a sliding
scale based on family size and income.  The division may waive
the sliding scale fee for children with special needs and may
establish procedures to assist families with incomes of more than
160% of the federal poverty level in transitioning off of state
assistance.  If annual appropriations are not sufficient to cover
all eligible families, the division may establish a waiting list
and rules for the prioritizing of eligible recipients on the
waiting list.

The Child Care and Development Fund is created which will consist
of moneys received from the federal Child Care and Development
Block Grant Program.  Upon appropriation, moneys in the fund will
be used by the department only within the guidelines of the
federal program.  Any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of
the biennium will not revert to the General Revenue Fund.

CHILD CARE QUALITY RATING SYSTEM

The Department of Social Services in collaboration with the
departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and
Secondary Education, and Mental Health is required to develop by
September 1, 2008, a quality rating system for early childhood
and before- and after-school programs that are licensed by the
Department of Social Services.  Licensing will be the baseline
rating, with the highest rating being accreditation.  The
Department of Social Services must use the model developed by the
University of Missouri Center for Family Policy and Research to
establish the quality rating system.  The rating system will
allow an individual to evaluate and select high quality programs,
create an accountability system for policymakers and funders, and
guide providers through a system of ever increasing levels of
quality with specific outcomes for child care.  The rating system
must be fully implemented by July 1, 2011.

By July 1, 2010, 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.  By December 31, 2009, a proposed
plan with recommendations for implementation of the reimbursement
system must be submitted to the General Assembly.  The plan will
only become effective after authorization by the General
Assembly.

The substitute creates the Quality Rating System Program
Improvement Grant Fund to be administered by the Department of
Social Services to provide grants directly to licensed providers
to make quality improvements to comply with the rating system or
to community-based organizations assisting providers with the
improvements.  Moneys in the fund will consist of donations,
gifts, transfers, bequests, and appropriations from the General
Assembly.

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:

(1)  Collecting, developing, and distributing resource materials
to educate the public and early childhood and before- and after-
school programs in Missouri about the quality rating system; and

(2)  Posting the ratings on the Internet by January 1, 2010.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Neighborhood youth development programs will be exempt from state
child care licensing requirements if the program:

(1)  Is affiliated and in good standing with a national
congressionally chartered organization's standards under Title
36, Public Law 105-225;

(2)  Provides recreational, educational, and character-building
activities geared for children six to 17 years of age;

(3)  Adopts standards for staff that include ratios, training,
health and safety, and assessments;

(4)  Does not collect any additional compensation for its
services, except annual membership dues not exceeding $50 per
year or program service fees for special activities;

(5)  Informs parents that the program is not regulated by
licensing requirements;

(6)  Provides a process for dispute resolution for parental
complaints; and

(7)  Conducts national criminal background checks for all program
employees and volunteers who work with children as well as
screening under the Family Care Safety Registry.

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 Up to
$32,687,155 in FY 2009, Up to $37,612,473 in FY 2010, and Up to
$41,562,018 in FY 2011.  No impact on Other State Funds in
FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that a child care rating system for
early childhood care facilities will give the children of
Missouri an opportunity for a better education and start with a
solid foundation.  A unified group that could educate our
children will cut down on special education needs in our current
education public system and will save costs.  The bill will
provide a system of monitoring child care facilities and will
provide feedback for improvement.  A rating system is an
investment in quality as we prepare our children for school.
Current research shows that children who attend high quality
programs in the first years of life are more likely to complete
high school, have better attitudes toward school, and score
higher on tests; all of which translate into lower costs on the
education system.  Over 60% of mothers work outside the home
which allows them less time to teach their children at young
ages, and 85% of brain structure is complete by age three.  A
rating system will be beneficial to families because it helps
them evaluate the quality of programs available at their child
care provider, helps them find quality providers, and gives a
resource for parents.  Seventeen states are participating in
similar programs and are seeing encouraging numbers and sharing
valuable information.  Twenty-nine states are in the process of
building a quality rating system.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Shields; Kathy Thornburg,
University of Missouri Center for Family Policy and Research;
Missouri State Teachers Association; Citizens for Missouri's
Children; Partnership for Children; Missouri Child Care Resource
and Referral; Beth Ann Lang, Teacher Education and Compensation
Helps Early Childhood MISSOURI; Missouri Chambers of Commerce and
Industry; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Missouri
National Education Association; and Diane Mauzy, Association for
the Education of Young Children of Missouri.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say this program would
only apply to licensed facilities and would have no impact on
religious programs that do not accept public funds.

Testifying on the bill was Missouri Baptist Convention, Christian
Life Commission.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm