71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2963
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 3444
                  Ordered by the House June 30
       Including House Amendments dated May 25 and June 30
 
Sponsored by Representative PATRIDGE; Representatives CLOSE,
  KNOPP
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Directs Department of Human Services { + , if Child Care
Division of Employment Department obtains federal waiver, + } to
establish At-Home Infant Child Care  { + Pilot + } Program to
help eligible families with infants cover some costs of staying
home and caring for their infants by providing subsidy in lieu of
child care assistance.  Specifies program will be implemented
only if adequate funds are available. Directs Child Care Division
 { - of Employment Department - } to request exception from
United States Department of Health and Human Services to allow
use of federal Child Care and Development Fund moneys for At-Home
Infant Child Care  { + Pilot + } Program.  { + Requires
Department of Human Services to report to Seventy-second
Legislative Assembly about progress of pilot program. + }
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
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. + }
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