1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to child care; requiring annual market rate 
  1.3             surveys; appropriating money; amending Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes 2000, section 119B.13, subdivision 1.  
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 119B.13, 
  1.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] The maximum rate 
  1.9   paid for child care assistance under the child care fund may not 
  1.10  exceed the 75th percentile rate for like-care arrangements in 
  1.11  the county as surveyed by the commissioner.  Beginning in 2002, 
  1.12  the commissioner must survey child care providers, including all 
  1.13  child care centers licensed by the department of human services, 
  1.14  after April 1 of each year to determine the 75th percentile of 
  1.15  the market rate.  The commissioner must implement any resulting 
  1.16  rate changes by August 1 of each year.  A rate which includes a 
  1.17  provider bonus paid under subdivision 2 or a special needs rate 
  1.18  paid under subdivision 3 may be in excess of the maximum rate 
  1.19  allowed under this subdivision.  The department shall must 
  1.20  monitor the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  The 
  1.21  county shall must pay the provider's full charges for every 
  1.22  child in care up to the maximum established.  The 
  1.23  commissioner shall must determine the maximum rate for each type 
  1.24  of care, including special needs and handicapped care.  Not less 
  1.25  than once every two years, the commissioner shall must evaluate 
  2.1   market practices for payment of absences and shall must 
  2.2   establish policies for payment of absent days that reflect 
  2.3   current market practice. 
  2.4      When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
  2.5   provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
  2.6   the difference in the rates in addition to any family copayment 
  2.7   fee. 
  2.8      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.9      $50,000 in fiscal year 2002 and $50,000 in fiscal year 2003 
  2.10  is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  2.11  children, families, and learning for the administration of the 
  2.12  market rate survey under Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.13.