1. A. The sliding fee scale used for non-FITAP recipients will be revised based on the state median income and federal poverty levels, on an annual basis to the extent that funds are available. A non-FITAP household shall pay a portion of its child care costs monthly in accordance with the sliding fee scale, and this shall be referred to as a "co-payment." The sliding fee scale is based on a percentage of the state median income.

2. B. Determination of Payments

   1. 1. Payments to providers on behalf of non-FITAP recipients with the exception of homeless families who are exempt from employment and training requirements as defined in §5103.B.4.e will be a percentage of the lesser of:

      1. a. the provider's actual charge multiplied by authorized service days or authorized service hours; or

      2. b. the state maximum rate for authorized services effective January 1, 2007, and with the addition of rates for class M centers effective October 30, 2009, as indicated below.

         Provider Type	Regular Care	Regular Care for Infants/Toddlers (under age 3)	Special Needs Care Incentive	Special Needs Care Incentive for Infants/Toddlers (under age 3)
         Class A	$17.50	$18.50	$21.65	$22.65
         Class E	$15.00	$16.00	$18.50	$19.50
         Class R	$15.00	$16.00	$18.50	$19.50
         Class U	$14.50	$15.50	$17.90	$18.90
         Class M	$17.50	$18.50	$21.65	$22.65

   2. 2. Payments to providers on behalf of FITAP recipients and homeless families who are exempt from employment and training requirements as defined in §5103.B.4.e will be the lesser of:

      1. a. the provider’s actual charge multiplied by authorized service days or authorized service hours; or

      2. b. the state maximum rate for authorized services effective January 1, 2007, as indicated below.

         Provider Type	Regular Care	Regular Care for Infants/Toddlers (under age 3)	Special Needs Care Incentive	Special Needs Care Incentive for Infants/Toddlers (under age 3)
         Class A	$17.50	$18.50	$21.65	$22.65
         Class E	$15.00	$16.00	$18.50	$19.50
         Class R	$15.00	$16.00	$18.50	$19.50
         Class U	$14.50	$15.50	$17.90	$18.90
         Class M	$17.50	$18.50	$21.65	$22.65

   3. 3. The number of days or hours authorized for payment is based on the lesser of the following:

      1. a. the time the child is actually in care each week; or
      2. b. the number of hours the head of household, the head of household’s spouse or non-legal spouse, or the minor unmarried parent is working and/or attending a job training or educational program each week, plus one hour per day for travel to and from such activity; or
      3. c. effective July 1, 2004, the time the care is actually needed and available.
3. C. Payment is made to the eligible child care provider after services are rendered.
4. D. Payment may be made to more than one provider for the same child if the combined payment does not exceed the maximum allowable per child.
5. E. Payment will not be made for absences of more than two days by a child in any calendar month or for an extended closure by a provider of more than two consecutive days in any calendar month. A day of closure, on a normal operating day for the provider, is counted as an absent day for the child(ren) in the provider’s care. If a child authorized for full-time care attends child care less than four hours in one day, this will be counted as a half day absent and half the daily rate will be paid to the provider. No absences will be authorized for part-time care. Exception: in cases of a federal/state/locally declared emergency situation, or other special circumstances, the department may at the discretion of the deputy secretary of programs waive this absence policy.
6. F. Electronic disbursement of child care payments shall be mandatory for all types of CCAP providers. Electronic disbursement of child care payments includes direct deposit to the CCAP provider’s bank account (checking or savings) or payments to a stored value card account for the CCAP provider. It is mandatory for Class A, Class M, and school child care providers to utilize direct deposit to receive their CCAP payments. The fees associated with the use of a stored value card are subject to the conditions of that financial institution.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99, and P.L. 104-193, ACF Guidance: ACYF-IM-CC-05-03.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, LR 24:357 (February 1998), amended LR 25:2445 (December 1999), LR 26:2828 (December 2000), LR 27:1933 (November 2001), LR 28:1491 (June 2002), LR 29:1834 (September 2003), LR 30:1485 (July 2004), repromulgated LR 30:2078 (September 2004), amended LR 31:2265 (September 2005), LR 32:1465 (August 2006), LR 32:2097 (November 2006), LR 33:507 (March 2007), LR 34:692 (April 2008), LR 36:555 (March 2010), LR 36:847 (April 2010), LR 36:1278 (June 2010), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability Section, LR 37:3491 (December 2011), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Programs, Economic Stability Section, LR 38:3104 (December 2012), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability Section, LR 41:532 (March 2015).