1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to children; raising certain reimbursement 
  1.3             rates for child care providers; appropriating money; 
  1.4             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 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 1998, section 119B.13, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SUBSIDY RESTRICTIONS.] Effective July 1, 
  1.10  1991, the maximum rate paid for child care assistance under the 
  1.11  child care fund is the maximum rate eligible for federal 
  1.12  reimbursement.  The rate may not exceed the 75th percentile rate 
  1.13  for like-care arrangements in the county as surveyed by the 
  1.14  commissioner, except that in counties where the 75th percentile 
  1.15  rate is less than $1.75 an hour, the rate may not exceed the 
  1.16  80th percentile rate for like-care arrangements in the county.  
  1.17  A rate which includes a provider bonus paid under subdivision 2 
  1.18  or a special needs rate paid under subdivision 3 may be in 
  1.19  excess of the maximum rate allowed under this subdivision.  The 
  1.20  department of children, families, and learning shall monitor the 
  1.21  effect of this paragraph on provider rates.  The county shall 
  1.22  pay the provider's full charges for every child in care up to 
  1.23  the maximum established.  The commissioner shall determine the 
  1.24  maximum rate for each type of care, including special needs and 
  1.25  handicapped care.  Not less than once every two years, the 
  2.1   county shall evaluate rates for payment of absent spaces and 
  2.2   shall 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      $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.10  commissioner of children, families, and learning for the 
  2.11  biennium ending June 30, 2001, for purposes of section 1.