This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Feb 18, 2021 at 3:31 PM by lfindlay.
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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the child care subsidy provisions of the Employment Support Act.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines "income" and "income-eligible child";
13 ▸ provides criteria for an income-eligible child to be eligible for a child care subsidy
14 or grant through the Employment Support Act; and
15 ▸ modifies the Office of Child Care's rulemaking authority to allow the office to make
16 rules on prioritizing awards of a child care subsidy or grant.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 35A-3-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 221
24 35A-3-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 354
25 ENACTS:
26 35A-3-209, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 35A-3-201 is amended to read:
30 35A-3-201. Definitions.
31 As used in this part:
32 (1) "Child care" means the child care services defined in Section 35A-3-102 for:
33 (a) children age 12 or younger; and
34 (b) children with disabilities age 18 or younger.
35 (2) "Child care provider association" means an association:
36 (a) that has functioned as a child care provider association in the state for at least three
37 years; and
38 (b) is affiliated with a national child care provider association.
39 (3) "Committee" means the Child Care Advisory Committee created in Section
40 35A-3-205.
41 (4) "Director" means the director of the Office of Child Care.
42 (5) (a) "Income" means gross income, whether earned or unearned, as defined by rule
43 made in accordance with Section 35A-3-203.
44 (b) "Income" does not include:
45 (i) income from means-tested programs, including:
46 (A) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families;
47 (B) the Social Security Act; and
48 (C) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
49 (ii) in-kind income;
50 (iii) scholarship, grant, or bona fide loan money;
51 (iv) a federal or state income tax credit; or
52 (v) a nonrecurring lump sum benefit.
53 (6) "Income-eligible child" means a child whose:
54 (a) family income does not exceed 85% of state median income for a family of the
55 same size; and
56 (b) family assets do not exceed the limit established by the office through rule created
57 in accordance with Section 35A-3-203.
58 [
59 Section 2. Section 35A-3-203 is amended to read:
60 35A-3-203. Functions and duties of office -- Annual report.
61 The office shall:
62 (1) assess critical child care needs throughout the state on an ongoing basis and focus
63 its activities on helping to meet the most critical needs;
64 (2) provide child care subsidy services for income-eligible children through age 12 and
65 for income-eligible children with disabilities through age 18;
66 (3) provide information:
67 (a) to employers for the development of options for child care in the work place; and
68 (b) for educating the public in obtaining quality child care;
69 (4) coordinate services for quality child care training and child care resource and
70 referral core services;
71 (5) apply for, accept, or expend gifts or donations from public or private sources;
72 (6) provide administrative support services to the committee;
73 (7) work collaboratively with the following for the delivery of quality child care, early
74 childhood programs, and school age programs throughout the state:
75 (a) the State Board of Education; and
76 (b) the Department of Health;
77 (8) research child care programs and public policy to improve the quality and
78 accessibility of child care, early childhood programs, and school age programs in the state;
79 (9) provide planning and technical assistance for the development and implementation
80 of programs in communities that lack child care, early childhood programs, and school age
81 programs;
82 (10) provide organizational support for the establishment of nonprofit organizations
83 approved by the Child Care Advisory Committee, created in Section 35A-3-205;
84 (11) coordinate with the department to include in the annual written report described in
85 Section 35A-1-109 information regarding the status of child care in Utah; and
86 (12) make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
87 Rulemaking Act, and consistent with state and federal law[
88 (a) establishing the eligibility requirements for a child care provider to receive a grant
89 or subsidy, including for the following:
90 [
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92 younger[
93 (b) prioritizing awards of child care grants or subsidies for income-eligible children
94 within available funds.
95 Section 3. Section 35A-3-209 is enacted to read:
96 35A-3-209. Award of child care subsidy services.
97 (1) (a) On or before June 30, 2023, the office shall award a full child care subsidy or
98 grant for an income-eligible child.
99 (b) The office shall make the award described in Subsection (1)(a):
100 (i) in accordance with applicable federal law and regulation; and
101 (ii) subject to available funds.
102 (2) Beginning on July 1, 2023, the office may award:
103 (a) a full child care subsidy or grant for an income-eligible child whose family income
104 is equal to or below 75% of state median income; and
105 (b) a progressively lower child care subsidy or grant for each tenth of a percentage
106 point by which the income-eligible child's family income exceeds 75% of state median income
107 up to 85% of state median income.
108 (3) (a) On or before June 30, 2023, and subject to Subsection (3)(b), the office shall
109 determine the amount of a child care subsidy or grant based on the income-eligible child's
110 enrollment in child care.
111 (b) To qualify for a child care subsidy or grant under Ĥ→ [
111a Ĥ→ (a) ←Ĥ , an
112 income-eligible child shall be enrolled in child care for a minimum of eight hours per month.
112a Ĥ→ (c) On or after July 1, 2023, and subject to Subsection (3)(d), the office shall
112b determine the amount of a child care subsidy or grant based on the income-eligible child's
112c attendance in child care.
112d (d) To qualify for a child care subsidy or grant under Subsection (3)(c), an
112e income-eligible child shall attend child care for a minimum of eight hours per month. ←Ĥ