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 2455
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3771
Ordered by the House April 17
Including House Amendments dated April 17
Sponsored by Representatives KAFOURY, PATRIDGE, G SMITH;
Representatives BACKLUND, BARNHART, GARRARD, KRUMMEL, KRUSE,
LEE, LEONARD, MORRISETTE, TOMEI, V WALKER, WIRTH, Senators
BROWN, CLARNO, TROW (at the request of Stand for Children)
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.
Creates Oregon Cares Program in Child Care Division for
purposes of providing wage supplements or tuition reimbursement
for child care workers.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to child care; appropriating money; and declaring an
emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + As used in sections 1 to 4 of this 2001 Act:
(1) 'Director' means a person with supervisory or management
responsibilities at a qualified child care facility who:
(a) Earns less than $15 per hour; and
(b) Works at least 20 hours per week at the qualified child
care facility.
(2) 'Provider' means a person who cares for children at a
qualified child care facility and who:
(a) Earns less than $12 per hour; and
(b) Works at least 20 hours per week at the qualified child
care facility.
(3) 'Qualified child care facility' means a registered or
certified child care facility as defined in ORS 657A.250 or a
federal Head Start program, where at least 10 percent of the
children cared for by the provider or at the facility where the
provider is employed receive or are eligible to receive subsidies
from the Adult and Family Services Division, or where the
facility agrees to serve such eligible children when openings
occur. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) There is created the Oregon Cares Program
in the Child Care Division, to be administered by the division
pursuant to rules adopted by the division. The purpose of the
program is to improve the quality, stability and safety of child
care by providing wage supplements to child care providers and
directors who receive advanced training and education and to
enable providers to pursue advanced training and education by
providing reimbursements to defray the costs of the training and
education.
(2) Applicants who are selected for participation according to
criteria adopted by the division under subsection (3) of this
section shall sign a letter of agreement stipulating that the
applicant agrees to continue employment at a qualified child care
facility for the next 12 months and to abide by the terms of the
program as described in this section and as determined by the
division by rule.
(3) The division shall, in consultation with the Oregon Center
for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education and the
Oregon Child Care Resource and Referral Network, adopt rules to:
(a) Establish criteria and an application and approval process
for participation in the program.
(b) Distribute funds for disbursement to approved providers and
directors.
(c) Determine the duties of the Oregon Center for Career
Development in Childhood Care and Education and the Oregon Child
Care Resource and Referral Network in administering the Oregon
Cares Program and determine the funding needed by the center and
by the network to carry out the duties of the program.
(d) Determine the amount of the wage supplement an approved
provider or director is eligible to receive.
(e) Approve training and education courses for which an
approved provider or director may be reimbursed.
(f) Ensure equity of participation.
(4) The division may enter into contracts or agreements with
other organizations or entities to accomplish the intent of
sections 1 to 4 of this 2001 Act. + }
SECTION 3. { + (1) In addition to any other form of aid for
which an applicant may be eligible, the Child Care Division may
award the wage supplements and reimbursements for the cost of
training and education under the Oregon Cares Program, to the
extent funds are made available, to child care providers and
directors whose applications have been reviewed and approved
under rules adopted pursuant to section 2 of this 2001 Act.
(2) To be eligible to receive cost reimbursements for training
and education or wage supplements under the provisions of
sections 1 to 4 of this 2001 Act, a provider or director must
reside in a locality contributing matching funds, according to a
formula established by the division. + }
SECTION 4. { + (1) For approved providers or directors working
40 hours per week at a qualified child care facility, the wage
supplements available under the Oregon Cares Program shall be
between $1,000 and $4,000 annually and shall correspond with
levels established in the Professional Development Registry of
the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and
Education.
(2) The wage supplements specified in subsection (1) of this
section shall be reduced proportionally for approved providers
and directors who work at least 20 hours per week but less than
40 hours per week at a qualified child care facility. + }
SECTION 5. { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Employment Department
for the Child Care Division, for the biennium beginning July 1,
2001, out of the General Fund, the amount of $2,000,000, which
may be expended by the Child Care Division for the purposes of
sections 2 to 4 of this 2001 Act. + }
SECTION 6. { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
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