§ 40-6.2-1.1 - Rates established.
SECTION 40-6.2-1.1
§ 40-6.2-1.1 Rates established. – (a) Subject to the payment limitations in section (b), the maximumreimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services andchildren, youth and families for licensed child care centers and certifiedfamily-child care providers shall be based on the following schedule of the75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of the75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:
SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.
SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.
(b) The department shall pay child care providers based onthe lesser of the applicable rate specified in subsection (a), or the lowestrate actually charged by the provider to any of its public or private childcare customers with respect to each of the rate categories, infant, preschooland school-age.
(c) By June 30, 2004 and biennially thereafter, thedepartment of labor and training shall conduct an independent survey or certifyan independent survey of the then current weekly market rates for child care inRhode Island and shall forward such weekly market rate survey to the departmentof human services. The departments of human services and labor and trainingwill jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, ratecategories and sub-categories. The 75th percentile of weekly market rates inthe table in subsection (a) shall be adjusted by the surveys conducted underthis subsection, beginning January 1, 2006 and for the purposes of thissection, and until adjusted in accordance with this subsection, the 75thpercentile of weekly market rate shall be the average of the 2002 and 2004weekly market rate surveys.
(d) In order to expand the accessibility and availability ofquality child care, the department of human services is authorized to establishby regulation alternative or incentive rates of reimbursement for qualityenhancements, innovative or specialized child care and alternativemethodologies of child care delivery, including non-traditional deliverysystems and collaborations.
(e) On or before January 1, 2007, all child care providershave the option to be paid every two (2) weeks and have the option of automaticdirect deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of reimbursement payments.