An Act To Improve the Delivery of Early Child Care and Education Services

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3737, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 394, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

Sec. 2. Rulemaking regarding child care rates. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend the Child Care Subsidy Policy Manual to establish state-paid child care rates at the 75th percentile of the most current local market rate survey as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3762, subsection 8, paragraph E. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 3. Home visiting services collaboration. The Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child and Family Services shall maintain a central listing of providers of home visiting services. In order to minimize duplication of services, beginning January 1, 2014, the department shall require that all providers of home visiting and other home-based family services that receive funding from the department participate in a collaborative process to better define roles and service parameters.

Sec. 4. Early Head Start. The Department of Health and Human Services shall direct all new Head Start program funding appropriated for or allocated to Head Start program purposes above the level of appropriations and allocations made in the state budget for fiscal year 2011-12 and fiscal year 2012-13 to the Early Head Start program for use for Early Head Start program enrollees.

Sec. 5. At-risk children. By October 15, 2013, the Child Care Advisory Council shall develop a definition of "at-risk child" in order to identify children who require assistance but who are not receiving that assistance and to create an eligibility category for child care vouchers. In developing the definition, the Child Care Advisory Council shall consider including under the definition children who have had adverse childhood experiences and shall work with the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child and Family Services. By November 30, 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services shall by rule adopt a definition of "at-risk child." Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 6. Early childhood professional development registry. By October 15, 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt rules regarding the funding and uses of the early childhood professional development registry to diversify the funding and uses of the registry. The department shall develop the rules in conjunction with a broadly representative group of stakeholders. The rules must require the registry to be funded by a combination of state funds used for direct services in child care, family education and support and early learning and development. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 7. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)

Child Care Services 0563

Initiative: Appropriates and allocates funds for the full match to leverage all available federal child care development funds.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$2,000,000	$2,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$2,000,000	$2,000,000

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$3,000,000	$3,000,000
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$3,000,000	$3,000,000

Head Start 0545

Initiative: Appropriates funds for the delivery of Head Start services.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$2,000,000	$2,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$2,000,000	$2,000,000

Purchased Social Services 0228

Initiative: Appropriates funds for home visiting services.

GENERAL FUND	2013-14	2014-15
All Other	$2,600,000	$4,900,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$2,600,000	$4,900,000

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2013-14	2014-15
GENERAL FUND	$6,600,000	$8,900,000
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	$3,000,000	$3,000,000
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$9,600,000	$11,900,000

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to pay child care services at the 75th percentile of the most current local market rate survey and pay a 10% premium to providers who meet tiered quality rating standards. It requires all providers of home visiting services to collaborate to better define rules and service parameters, directs Head Start program funding to the Early Head Start program, requires the department and the Child Care Advisory Council to establish a definition of "at-risk child" for the purposes of child care eligibility and diversifies the funding and uses of the early childhood professional development registry. It contains funding appropriations for child care, home visiting and Head Start.