1. (a) Through June 30, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

   Licensed Childcare Centers	75th Percentile of Weekly
   	Market Rate
   Infant	$182.00
   Preschool	$150.00
   School-Age	$135.00

   Licensed Family Childcare	75th Percentile of Weekly
   Providers	Market Rate
   Infant	$150.00
   Preschool	$150.00
   School-Age	$135.00

   Effective July 1, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based on the above schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates. These rates shall be increased by ten dollars ($10.00) per week for infant/toddler care provided by licensed family childcare providers and license-exempt providers and then the rates for all providers for all age groups shall be increased by three percent (3%). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, licensed childcare centers shall be reimbursed a maximum weekly rate of one hundred ninety-three dollars and sixty-four cents ($193.64) for infant/toddler care and one hundred sixty-one dollars and seventy-one cents ($161.71) for preschool-age children.

2. (b) Effective July l, 2018, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum infant/toddler and preschool-age reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1.

   1. (1) For infant/toddler child care, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half percent (2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed twenty percent (20%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed thirty-three percent (33%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount.
   2. (2) For preschool reimbursement rates, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half percent (2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed ten percent (10%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-one percent (21%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount.
3. (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4.]
4. (d) By June 30, 2004, and biennially through June 30, 2014, the department of labor and training shall conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the then-current weekly market rates for child care in Rhode Island and shall forward the weekly market rate survey to the department of human services. The next survey shall be conducted by June 30, 2016, and triennially thereafter. The departments of human services and labor and training will jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, rate categories and sub-categories.
5. (e) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the department of human services is authorized to establish, by regulation, alternative or incentive rates of reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care, and alternative methodologies of childcare delivery, including nontraditional delivery systems and collaborations.
6. (f) Effective January 1, 2007, all childcare providers have the option to be paid every two (2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of reimbursement payments.
7. (g) Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum infant/toddler reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed family childcare providers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Tier one shall be reimbursed two percent (2%) above the prevailing base rate for step 1 and step 2 providers, three percent (3%) above prevailing base rate for step 3 providers, and four percent (4%) above the prevailing base rate for step 4 providers; tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the prevailing base rate; tier three shall be reimbursed eleven percent (11%) above the prevailing base rate; tier four shall be reimbursed fourteen percent (14%) above the prevailing base rate; and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-three percent (23%) above the prevailing base rate.

8. (h) Through December 31, 2021, the maximum reimbursement rates paid by the departments of human services, and children, youth and families to licensed childcare centers shall be consistent with the enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

   	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5
   Infant/Toddler	$257.54	$257.54	$257.54	$257.54	$273.00
   Preschool Age	$195.67	$195.67	$195.67	$195.67	$260.00
   School Age	$200.00	$200.00	$200.00	$200.00	$245.00

   The maximum reimbursement rates paid by the departments of human services, and children, youth and families to licensed family childcare providers shall be consistent with the enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

   	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5
   Infant/Toddler	$224.43	$224.43	$224.43	$224.43	$224.43
   Preschool Age	$171.45	$171.45	$171.45	$171.45	$171.45
   School Age	$162.30	$162.30	$162.30	$162.30	$162.30

9. (i) Effective January 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be reimbursed as follows:

   Licensed Childcare Centers

   	Tier One	Tier Two	Tier Three	Tier Four	Tier Five
   Infant/Toddler	$236.36	$244.88	$257.15	$268.74	$284.39
   Preschool	$207.51	$212.27	$218.45	$223.50	$231.39
   School-Age	$180.38	$182.77	$185.17	$187.57	$189.97

   The maximum reimbursement rates for licensed family childcare providers paid by the departments of human services, and children, youth and families is determined through collective bargaining. The maximum reimbursement rates for infant/toddler and preschool age children paid to licensed family childcare providers by both departments is implemented in a tiered manner that reflects the quality rating the provider has achieved in accordance with § 42-12-23.1.

10. (j) Effective July 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be reimbursed as follows:

    Licensed Childcare Centers

    	Tier One	Tier Two	Tier Three	Tier Four	Tier Five
    Infant/Toddler	$265	$270	$282	$289	$300
    Preschool	$225	$235	$243	$250	$260
    School-Age	$200	$205	$220	$238	$250

11. (k) Effective July 1, 2024, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be reimbursed as follows:

    Licensed Childcare Centers

    	Tier One	Tier Two	Tier Three	Tier Four	Tier Five
    Infant/Toddler	$278	$284	$296	$303	$315
    Preschool	$236	$247	$255	$263	$273
    School-Age	$210	$215	$231	$250	$263

12. (l) Effective July 1, 2025, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be reimbursed as follows:

    	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5
    Infant	$334	$341	$355	$364	$378
    Toddlers	$278	$284	$296	$303	$315
    Preschoolers	$236	$247	$255	$263	$273
    School Age	$210	$215	$231	$250	$263

History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 546, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 163, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 129, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 131, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 132, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 133, § 13; P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 34, § 4; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 11, § 3; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 27, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 10, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 14, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 601, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 612, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 15, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 27, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 17, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 15, § 7; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4; P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 13, § 7, effective July 6, 2021; P.L. 2022, ch. 231, art. 13, § 3, effective July 1, 2022; P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 11, § 4, effective July 1, 2024; P.L. 2025, ch. 278, art. 10, § 6, effective June 29, 2025.