This bill amends Minnesota Statutes concerning the child care assistance program, introducing new requirements to enhance access and support for families. It mandates that the commissioner provide direct child care services through grants or contracts specifically for families in underserved areas, those with infants and toddlers, and families with children with disabilities. The bill also establishes new criteria for redetermining eligibility, allowing counties to align eligibility periods for multiple children within the same family and deferring eligibility redetermination for certain families. Additionally, it revises the parent fee structure by increasing the minimum fee and exempting specific vulnerable groups from parent fees altogether.

Moreover, the bill simplifies the application process for the child care assistance program and requires the development of a grant program for direct child care services. It repeals a previous provision regarding reimbursement for absent days, reflecting a policy shift to better support families. New guidelines for reimbursement of absent days for legal nonlicensed family child care providers are established, including conditions under which providers will not be reimbursed unless they have a uniform written policy on child absences. The bill also allows for reimbursement for holidays and ensures that families are notified about the number of absent days used, promoting transparency in the reimbursement process.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 142E.17, 142E.02, 142E.03, 142E.15, 245C.13