North Carolina would help home child care providers seek meal payments

North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services would take all feasible administrative steps to help these providers access the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. Covered providers must operate legally. They include people caring for two or fewer children in their own home, people caring in a child's home for related children plus no more than two others, and people providing care that does not require a state license. Participation would be voluntary, and child care licensing requirements would stay the same. Access must follow federal law and program rules. Officials could seek available federal waivers or other permissions.

The state would set aside General Fund money for the Division of Child Development and Early Education to plan and administer provider participation. The money would support state efforts to connect family, friend, and neighbor child care providers with the meal program. The $150,000 would pay for planning, outreach, simpler application and record-keeping procedures, and requests for federal permission. The $500,000 would support ongoing administration and providers. State funding would be reduced once federal administrative reimbursements are sufficient to cover those costs. Unspent money would remain available until spent or June 30 of the second fiscal year following the year it was set aside, whichever comes first.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education would publish an implementation plan and submit its first participation report to lawmakers. The Department of Health and Human Services would also report each year on efforts to connect these providers with the meal program. The plan would identify the chosen approach, timelines, needed rule changes, federal approvals, and resources. Reports would count participating providers and children served, explain barriers and steps taken, and recommend further action. The act would take effect when it becomes law. The first report would be due within 12 months of that date. The ongoing reporting rule would require reports by July 1 each year.