1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to family and early childhood education 
  1.3             finance; modifying child care market rate survey; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 119B.13, 
  1.5             subdivision 1.  
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 119B.13, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] The maximum rate 
  1.10  paid for child care assistance under the child care fund may not 
  1.11  exceed the 75th percentile rate for like-care arrangements in 
  1.12  the county as surveyed by the commissioner.  Beginning July 1, 
  1.13  2000, the 75th percentile rate established for a county may not 
  1.14  be less than the 75th percentile rate established for that 
  1.15  county during the previous year.  A rate which includes a 
  1.16  provider bonus paid under subdivision 2 or a special needs rate 
  1.17  paid under subdivision 3 may be in excess of the maximum rate 
  1.18  allowed under this subdivision.  The department shall monitor 
  1.19  the effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  The county 
  1.20  shall pay the provider's full charges for every child in care up 
  1.21  to the maximum established.  The commissioner shall determine 
  1.22  the maximum rate for each type of care, including special needs 
  1.23  and handicapped care.  Not less than once every two years, the 
  1.24  commissioner shall evaluate market practices for payment of 
  1.25  absences and shall establish policies for payment of absent days 
  2.1   that reflect current market practice. 
  2.2      When the provider charge is greater than the maximum 
  2.3   provider rate allowed, the parent is responsible for payment of 
  2.4   the difference in the rates in addition to any family copayment 
  2.5   fee.