Chapter 983 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

HB 3444

Relating to child care.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. As used in section 2 of this 2001 Act:

(1) “Infant” means a child from birth to 12 months of age and includes adopted infants.

(2) “Parent” means a biological parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, stepparent or guardian.

(3) “Temporary assistance for needy families program” means the program under ORS 418.035 to 418.172.

SECTION 2. (1) If the Child Care Division obtains a federal waiver as described in section 3 of this 2001 Act, the Department of Human Services shall establish an At-Home Infant Child Care Pilot Program in a geographic area that includes Jackson County and in two other geographic areas. The purpose of the pilot program is to help eligible families with infants cover some of the costs of staying home and caring for their infants by providing a subsidy in lieu of child care assistance under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

(2)(a) Following the birth or adoption of an infant, a family is eligible to receive a subsidy for at-home infant child care assistance if one or both of the parents provide care for the infant and the family is eligible to receive, or is receiving, benefits under the temporary assistance for needy families program. An eligible family who receives a subsidy under the pilot program may not receive at the same time benefits under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, no more than 200 families shall be eligible to receive a subsidy under the pilot program.

(3) An eligible family is limited to a lifetime total of 12 months of at-home infant child care assistance.

(4) The maximum rate of assistance an eligible family may receive is 75 percent of the rate established for full-time care of infants in the applicant's county of residence. There is no additional subsidy for infants with special needs.

(5) The department by rule shall establish standards for administration of the pilot program and requirements for participation in the pilot program. After initial eligibility has been established, the standards shall include income standards that are the same as the income standards established by the department for the Employment Related Day Care program.

(6) The department shall work with the Commission for Child Care and the Child Care Division to develop outcome measures for the pilot program and to conduct a pilot program evaluation. The evaluation shall include profiling families who participate in the program to determine the costs of the program.

(7) The At-Home Infant Child Care Pilot Program established under this section shall be implemented only if adequate funds become available.

SECTION 3. During the 2001-2003 biennium, the Child Care Division shall request from the United States Department of Health and Human Services a waiver from the use restrictions on the federal Child Care and Development Fund for the purpose of using such funds for the At-Home Infant Child Care Pilot Program established pursuant to section 2 of this 2001 Act.

SECTION 4. The Department of Human Services shall report to the Seventy-second Legislative Assembly about the progress of the At-Home Infant Child Care Pilot Program established pursuant to section 2 of this 2001 Act.

Approved by the Governor August 16, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 16, 2001

Effective date January 1, 2002

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