SENATE 3rd Reading Unamended March 30, 2016 SENATE Amended 2nd Reading March 29, 2016 HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended March 8, 2016 HOUSE 2nd Reading Unamended March 7, 2016Second Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REREVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the Second House LLS NO. 16-0859.01 Jane Ritter x4342 HOUSE BILL 16-1183 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Buckner, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Crowder, House Committees Senate Committees Public Health Care & Human Services Health & Human Services A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning aligning changes made to the federal child care and development block grant reauthorization of 2014 to the Colorado child care assistance program. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill aligns state statute with changes in federal law related to the Colorado child care assistance program (CCCAP). The state law is modified to specify that a child receiving CCCAP supports continues to be eligible for those supports for an entire 12-month period before eligibility is redetermined, as long as the child's family income remains below 85% of the state median income for that family size, as required by federal law. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-2-805, amend (2) and (7) (b) as follows: 26-2-805. Services - eligibility - assistance provided - waiting lists - rules. (2) (a) The county may provide child care assistance for any other family whose income meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section but does not exceed the maximum federal level for eligibility for services of eighty-five percent of the state median income for a family of the same size. Upon notification to counties by the state department that the relevant human services case management systems, including the Colorado child care automated tracking system, are capable of accommodating this subsection (2), and for a participant or a person or family whose income rises to the level set by the county at which the county may deny the participant, person, or family child care assistance, the county shall immediately notify the family that it is no longer eligible for CCCAP and continue to provide the current CCCAP subsidy to that family for no less than ninety days while the family makes appropriate arrangements for child care. The county is strongly encouraged to continue to provide child care assistance for a period of six months; except that in no event shall child care assistance be provided if the income exceeds the maximum level for eligibility for services set by federal law for a family of the same size. During the six-month period the county shall work with the participant, person, or family to provide a gradual transition off child care assistance provided pursuant to this subsection (2). (b) If, during a participant's, person's, or family's twelve-month eligibility period, the participant's, person's, or family's income rises to the level set by the county at which the county may deny such participant, person, or family child care assistance, the county shall continue providing the current CCCAP subsidy until that participant's, person's, or family's next twelve-month redetermination. (c) If, at the time of a participant's, person's, or family's twelve-month eligibility redetermination, the participant's, person's, or family's income rises to or above the level set by the county at which the county may deny child care assistance, or if that income level rises above the maximum federal eligibility level of eighty-five percent of the state median income for a family of the same size, the county shall immediately notify the participant, person, or family that it is no longer eligible for CCCAP, but may be provided transition CCCAP benefits pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e) of this subsection (2). (d) Except as provided for in paragraph (e) of this subsection (2), the county shall continue to provide the current CCCAP subsidy to a participant, person, or family who has lost eligibility pursuant to this subsection (2) for a period of no less than ninety days from the time of notification to allow the participant, person, or family to make appropriate alternative arrangements for child care. Additionally, the county is strongly encouraged to continue to provide child care assistance for a period of six months from the time of notification. During the six-month period the county shall work with the participant, person, or family to provide a gradual transition off child care assistance provided pursuant to this subsection (2). (e) Notwithstanding any eligibility level set by a county pursuant to this section, under no circumstance may a county provide child care assistance pursuant to this section if the participant's, person's, or family's income exceeds the maximum level for eligibility for services set by federal law of eighty-five percent of the state median income for a family of the same size. (7) (b) If a county reduces its income eligibility requirements, the county shall continue to enroll a child enrolled in CCCAP when the change is implemented must continue to be enrolled in CCCAP until the family's next eligibility redetermination or for six months, whichever is longer. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-2-804, amend (3) as follows: 26-2-804. Funding - allocation - maintenance of effort. (3) The moneys in a county block grant allocated to a county pursuant to subsection (1) of this section may only be used for the provision of child care services under rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to this part 8 as follows: (a) For the provision of child care services under rules promulgated by the state board pursuant to this part 8; and (b) For activities to improve the quality of child care, as described by the federal "Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014", Pub.L. 113-186. SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.