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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3737, sub-§4  is enacted to read:
 
4.  Child care rates.     Beginning August 1, 2016, maximum rates for child care services established by the department must at least equal the 60th percentile of local market rates for the various categories of child care services in rule. The rates for child care services for children with special needs must be higher than the 60th percentile of local market rates.
Sec. 2.  PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. UU  is repealed.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
 
Child Care Services 0563
 
Initiative: Provides a Federal Block Grant Fund allocation to increase the maximum rates for child care services to be at least equal to the 60th percentile of the local market rates.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2015-16	2016-17	
All Other	$0	$785,630	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$0	$785,630	
 
Sec. 4. Effective date. That section of this Act that repeals Public Law 2011, chapter 380, Part UU is effective August 1, 2016.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill. The amendment repeals unallocated language in Public Law 2011, chapter 380, Part UU that had set the child care subsidy reimbursement rates at the 50th percentile of local market rates. This amendment increases the reimbursement rates to the 60th percentile of local market rates beginning on August 1, 2016, the implementation date for the new child care and development fund plan for Maine.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)