Child-care officials may share duties and set subsidy rules

The Early Learning System Director and the Human Services Director may delegate certain duties, functions or powers to each other. The delegation may cover program eligibility decisions and standardized information for families seeking early learning and care. The delegation must be made through an interagency agreement. The directors must consider the delegation necessary for efficient and effective operation of their departments. The act takes effect on passage under its emergency clause.

The Early Learning Council must adopt rules for the Employment Related Day Care subsidy program and other subsidy programs run by the early learning department. The rules cover families and children seeking subsidized care, participating child-care facilities and payments made through the Employment Related Day Care program. Eligibility may be based on household income, work or education activities, protective or housing-related services, or other council-approved criteria. Care must address a child's developmental, disability and neurodiversity needs and support family well-being activities. Payments must be based on enrollment, and late monthly payments generally must include an additional nine percent. Subject to available funds, family copayments may not exceed seven percent of household income, and eligibility may not depend on citizenship or legal status. For a child who meets the initial requirements, eligibility must generally continue for at least 12 months from the initial eligibility date, unless an exception applies.

The department must give applicants and waitlisted people standard information about publicly funded early learning and care before sending them to a general resource hotline. The information must cover state programs and services such as preschool, infant and toddler care, early learning hubs, relief nurseries and Head Start. The requirement applies to people who apply for or are placed on a waitlist for the Employment Related Day Care subsidy program. The information must be provided before referral to a generalized resource hotline.