House Sponsors: O'BRIEN-KLINGLER-RONEN-LINDNER-ERWIN, MULLIGAN, GASH, CROTTY, HOWARD, FEIGENHOLTZ, SCHAKOWSKY, CURRIE, SILVA, SCHOENBERG, BOLAND, GIGLIO, NOVAK, MCKEON, JONES,SHIRLEY, DART, GILES, MAUTINO, JONES,LOU, HOLBROOK AND MOORE,EUGENE. Senate Sponsors: SYVERSON-RAUSCHENBERGER-PARKER-SMITH-WALSH,L Short description: DCFS-DAY CARE-TECHNICAL Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Replaces "every year" with "annually" in a Section concerning day care. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 505/5.15 Adds reference to: 305 ILCS 5/9A-11 Deletes everything. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code in provisions regarding child care assistance. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall allocate not less than 2.5% of the funds appropriated to the Department for child care services to provide child care services to persons at risk of becoming TANF recipients whose family income is below the threshold for eligibility and who are enrolled and making satisfactory progress in certain specified employment or education programs. Provides that the income of a parent of an applicant claimed as a tax dependent on that parent's federal income tax return shall be considered in determining the eligibility of certain applicants for child care services who are at risk of becoming TANF recipients. Requires the Department to col- lect identifying information and data on persons who apply for child care services who are at risk of becoming recipients of TANF whom the Department is unable to serve due to a lack of sufficient resources. Changes the income eligibility threshold for services from 50% of State median income to 60% of current State median income. Effective immediately. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Provides that notwithstanding the income level at which families become eligible to receive child care assistance, any family which remains otherwise eligible for child care assistance shall continue to receive child care assistance until the family income exceeds 60% of current State median income. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 3. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall set aside 6% of all funds appropriated to the Department to provide child care services under the Code to expand the quality of child care provided and 4% to expand the supply of child care provided, specifically including rehabilitation and construction of facilities and building the supply of care in identified areas of need, such as infant and toddler care, care for children with special needs, and before and after school care. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 4. Creates a Task Force on Child Care Rates for the purposes of reviewing the results of the 1998 child care market rate survey conducted by the Department of Human Services and making recommendations to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Secretary of Human Services regarding the implementation of the findings of the 1998 market rate survey. Provides that the Task Force shall consist of 15 members, appointed by the Governor, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the General Assembly, the Secretary of Human Services, and the Director of Children and Family Services. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and to the Governor by December 1, 1998 and that the Task Force is abolished on January 1, 1999. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 5. Provides that co-payments for child care for a family with one child in care shall not exceed 8% of the family's gross annual income, and for a family with 2 children in care shall not exceed 10% of the family's gross annual income, with nominal increases for additional children. Makes allowances for newly employed families and for summer care rates for school-aged children of families in good standing. Provides that non-profit and governmental entities that receive State subsidies for the provision of child care and collect no less than 90% of co-payment fees due per month shall be reimbursed by the Department of Human Services for any remaining fees not collected up to 10% of those due. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 7. Deletes everything. Reinserts language identical to the bill as previously amended but removes provisions detailing the assistance to be provided to families at risk of becoming TANF recipients and provisions changing the income eligibility guidelines for child care services. FISCAL NOTE, H-am 7 (DHS) The Department's child care fee scale indicates that a weekly fees for more than two children in care increase by only $0-l.00 for each additional child at the same earnings levels. If a family's income increases by certain amounts and they have an additional child in care, fees increase by more than $1.00. Co-payments would be reduced for families who make $19,638 (45% of the SMI for a family of three) or more. The amendment does not address where (or how) providers would make up the lost revenues. The budgetary impact of the Dept. assuming these co-payments will cost approximately $1.8 million annually. This cost es- timate assumes 25% of current cases (with new earnings) and newly approved earned income cases will qualify based on an average monthly co-payment benefit of $50 per case. Requires that certain families be charged a full-time summer co-payment equal to the part-time school-year fee. The fiscal impact would be a reduction in co-payments collected by child care providers. Requires reimbursement by the Dept. to certain providers for uncollected fees. Whatever amount is estimated, additional appropriations would be required to meet this purpose. STATE MANDATES ACT FISCAL NOTE, H-AM 7 Fails to create a State mandate. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: 99-01-12 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 6 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status