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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Develop a Plan To Strengthen the Quality and Supply of Child Care Services’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop child care provider plan. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop a plan for increasing the number of child care providers participating in step 3 and step 4 of the child care quality rating system developed pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3737, subsection 3 and the graduated quality differential rates of reimbursement for those providers. The department shall consult with stakeholders as it develops the plan, including those groups involved with the contract for the Quality for ME Revision Project. In developing the plan the department shall:
1. Determine if sufficient funding is available under the federal child care and development fund block grant to be used to support additional reimbursement based on quality;
2. Develop incentives for child care providers to attain step 3 and step 4 ratings, including reimbursement differentials, grant programs, contracts, professional development, child care and educational training programs and increased infant and toddler care, while balancing the regulatory requirements and needs of the entire child care system;
3. Take into account the geographic differences in the State so that parents in all areas have access to child care providers at step 3 and step 4;
4. Develop definitions of "disabilities" and "special needs" for infants and toddlers to be used in quality standards;
5. Determine if the federal statutory and regulatory framework allows the differential plan being developed and if changes are required in the state child care and development fund plan to align with the differential plan;
6. Determine any state statutory or regulatory barriers to increasing the supply and quality of child care; and
7. Provide data on the existing numbers of children in need of care; child care providers by type, step on the child care quality rating system, geography, number of children currently served and capacity; and any other relevant factors; and be it further
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall report its findings and statutory recommendations pursuant to section 1 no later than January 30, 2019 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters may report out legislation based on the findings of the report to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for increasing the supply of child care providers participating in steps 3 and 4 of the child care quality rating system established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3737, subsection 3. The department is required to include stakeholders in the process of developing the plan, including those involved in the Quality for ME Revision Project. The plan must include determining whether sufficient funding in the federal child care and development fund block grant exists. It must examine federal and state statutory and regulatory frameworks to determine what is allowable, factors that present barriers and if the state child care and development fund plan must be amended. The plan must take into consideration reimbursement differentials, grant programs, contracts, professional development, child care and educational training programs and increased infant and toddler care to increase the supply of child care providers participating in steps 3 and 4. The plan must take into account geographic differences in access to quality child care in the State. The department must develop definitions of "disabilities" and "special needs" for infants and toddlers to be used in quality standards. The department is required to provide data on the numbers of children in need of care and child care providers by type, step on the child care quality rating system, geography, numbers served and capacity and any other relevant data. The department is required to submit its report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than January 30, 2019. The committee may report out legislation to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)