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An Act To Enable a Foster Child To Remain in a Daycare Facility Selected by a Foster Parent
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §4062, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  Child care expenses incurred by foster parents.     The department shall pay 100% of the child care expenses incurred by a foster parent for child care provided at a child care provider selected by the foster parent in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.
 
A.  The child care provider must be licensed by the department.
 
B.  The foster parent must demonstrate a need for child care as determined by the department.
 
C.  The child must meet eligibility requirements, other than financial eligibility requirements, as determined by the department.
 
D.  The department may stop paying a child care provider under this subsection only if ending the payment is for the child's health, safety or well-being or for reasons directly related to family reunification.
 
The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to pay 100% of the child care expenses incurred by a foster parent for child care provided at a licensed child care provider selected by the foster parent, subject to certain determinations of the department. The bill is in response to a proposal by the department to cap daycare payments.