NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on the child care assistance program related to administrative, family, and provider provisions. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Child Care Assistance Program, including the following:
- Article 1. Administrative Provisions (7 AAC 41.010 – 7 AAC 41.060), is proposed to be changed as follows: Add to responsibilities of designees; revise rates to the Child Care Assistance Program Rate Schedule for the maximum state payment to a child care provider.
- Article 2. Provision for Providers (7 ACC 41.200 - 7 AAC 41.270), is proposed to be changed as follows: clarify health and safety training requirements for approved relative providers; add ratios and program requirements for a child who turns 13 years of age while receiving authorized care; clarify behavior guidance for out-of-control behavior; clarify life and fire safety for relocating services, emergency evacuation drills, and procedure for lock-down and sheltering in place; clarify provider charges for participating providers; clarify reports for suspension or expulsion; and add and clarify compliance and other reviews for annual unannounced inspections.
- Article 3. Provisions for Family (7 ACC 41.300 - 7 ACC 41.375) is proposed to be changed as follows: clarify eligibility requirements for families; revise the Family Income and Contribution Schedule; and clarify and add requirements to disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation plan.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to the Department of Health & Social Services, Child Care Program Office, 3601 C St., Suite 140, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 269-4536 and by electronic mail at nicole.fritz@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on July 12, 2019.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on June 19, 2019, at conference room 880, 3601 C Street, Anchorage, AK 99503. The hearing will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 3 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to comment during the oral public hearing, you can call the teleconference number 1-800-705-1680 (Toll Free).
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Nicole Fritz by e-mail at nicole.fritz@alaska.gov or at Department of Health & Social Services, Child Care Program Office, 3601 C St., Suite 140, Anchorage, AK 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health & Social Services will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/ and its website at http://dhss.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/ccare/default.aspx .
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Nicole Fritz at nicole.fritz@alaska.gov or by telephone at (907) 269-7667 not later than June 10, 2019, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Nicole Fritz at nicole.fritz@alaska.gov or by telephone at (907) 269-7667.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health & Social Services will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.340, AS 47.25.001; AS 47.25.021; AS 47.25.031; AS 47.25.041; AS 47.25.051; AS 47.25.095.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.340, AS 47.25.001; AS 47.25.021; AS 47.25.031; AS 47.25.041; AS 47.25.051; AS 47.25.095.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office, keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office at nicole.fritz@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
DATE: May 29, 2019.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services