This bill amends existing laws regarding the child care assistance program in South Dakota, specifically sections 28-1-60 and 28-1-61. The Department of Social Services is tasked with establishing a child care assistance program to support families and enhance the quality of child care services. The secretary of social services is now required to adopt rules for the administration of this program, which includes areas such as eligibility determination, payment amounts, licensing, and compliance monitoring. The language has been updated to replace "may" with "shall," indicating a stronger obligation to implement these rules.

Additionally, a new section is introduced that mandates the Department of Social Services to determine payments for the child care assistance program based on at least the ninetieth percentile of the market rate for the applicable area, as identified in the most recent market rate survey. This applies to various child care programs, including before and after school care, child care for different age groups, and family day care. The bill aims to ensure that the assistance provided aligns with current market rates, thereby improving access and quality of child care services for families in South Dakota.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2025: 28-1-60, 28-1-61