HF 2387

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:03am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; authorizing Head Start school readiness service
agreements; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [119B.233] HEAD START SCHOOL READINESS SERVICE
AGREEMENTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Overview. new text end

new text begin (a) Effective July 1, 2009, the commissioner may
authorize payments up to the weekly maximum for like-care arrangements when Head
Start providers who are deemed by the commissioner to meet the requirements of a Head
Start school readiness service agreement (SRSA) provider and perform services that
support school readiness for children and economic stability for parents.
new text end

new text begin (b) A provider may be paid at a weekly rate under section 119B.13 if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the provider has entered into a Head Start SRSA under this section with the
commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (2) a family using that provider receives child care assistance under any provision in
chapter 119B except section 119B.035; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the family using that provider meets the criteria in this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Provider eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) To be considered for a Head Start SRSA, a
provider shall apply to the commissioner. To be eligible to apply for a Head Start SRSA, a
provider shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) be eligible for child care assistance payments under chapter 119B;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide full-time, full-year child care services; and
new text end

new text begin (3) meet Head Start performance standards for the entire service day.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible provider who would like to enter into a Head Start SRSA with the
commissioner shall submit a Head Start SRSA application. To determine whether to enter
into a Head Start SRSA with a provider, the commissioner shall evaluate the following
factors:
new text end

new text begin (1) the provider's plan to serve families who are homeless or living in transitional
housing and other at-risk or special needs children; and
new text end

new text begin (2) other related factors determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Family and child eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) A family eligible to choose a Head
Start SRSA provider for the child shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) be eligible to receive child care assistance under any provision in chapter 119B
except section 119B.035;
new text end

new text begin (2) be in an authorized activity for an average of at least 35 hours per week when
initial eligibility is determined. A family is allowed 90 days to achieve this 35-hours
per-week threshold; and
new text end

new text begin (3) include a child who has not yet entered kindergarten.
new text end

new text begin (b) A family who is determined to be eligible to choose a Head Start SRSA provider
remains eligible to receive services under this paragraph from a Head Start SRSA provider
when the following conditions exist:
new text end

new text begin (1) the child attends child care with the Head Start SRSA provider a minimum of
25 hours per week, on average;
new text end

new text begin (2) the family has a child who has not yet entered kindergarten;
new text end

new text begin (3) the family maintains eligibility under chapter 119B except section 119B.035; and
new text end

new text begin (4) the child is living with a family who is either homeless or in transitional and
permanent supportive housing.
new text end

new text begin (c) After initial eligibility has been determined, a decrease in the family's authorized
activities to an average of less than 35 hours per week does not result in ineligibility for
Head Start SRSA services.
new text end

new text begin (d) A family that moves between counties but continues to use the same Head Start
SRSA provider shall continue to be authorized to receive SRSA services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Requirements of providers. new text end

new text begin A Head Start SRSA must meet Head Start
performance standards for the full service day. A provider who enters into a Head Start
SRSA shall comply with the assessment, evaluation, and reporting requirements in the
Head Start SRSA.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Relationship to current law. new text end

new text begin (a) The following provisions in chapter 119B
must be waived or modified for families receiving services under this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) Only care for a child who has not yet entered kindergarten and who meets
eligibility requirements in subdivision 3 may be paid at the maximum rate under this
section. The provider's charge for service provided through a Head Start SRSA may not
exceed the rate that the provider charges a private-pay family for like-care arrangements.
new text end

new text begin (c) A family or child care provider may not be assessed an overpayment for care
provided through a Head Start SRSA unless:
new text end

new text begin (1) there was an error in the amount of care authorized for the family; or
new text end

new text begin (2) the family or provider did not timely report a change as required under law.
new text end

new text begin (d) Care provided through a Head Start SRSA is authorized on a weekly basis.
new text end

new text begin (e) Notwithstanding section 119B.09, subdivision 6, the maximum amount of child
care assistance that may be authorized for a child receiving care through an SRSA in a
two-week period is 160 hours per child.
new text end

new text begin (f) Absent day payment limits under section 119B.13, subdivision 7, do not apply to
children for care paid through a Head Start SRSA provided the family remains eligible
under subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Establishment of service agreements. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner shall
approve Head Start SRSAs for eligible providers. Entering into a service agreement does
not guarantee that a provider will receive payment at the Head Start SRSA standard for all
families receiving child care assistance.
new text end

new text begin (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit parent choice as defined in
section 119B.09, subdivision 5.
new text end