HB 1524 -- Child Care Facility Rating System

Sponsor:  Franz

This bill 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 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 the best early
childhood program, provide accountability information to
policymakers and funders, and guide providers in achieving
quality 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.

The bill 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.  Moneys in
the fund will consist of donations, gifts, transfers, and
appropriations from the General Assembly.

The Department of Social Services in collaboration with the
departments of Health and Senior Services and Elementary and
Secondary Education will be responsible for:

(1)  Collecting, developing, and distributing resource materials
to educate the public and child care programs about the rating
system; and

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

The provisions of the bill will expire six years from the
effective date.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:10 pm