Changes to the current subsidized child care eligibility regulations are being proposed that may impact families, children, and early childhood education providers, including, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Expanded eligibility periods of 12 months;
- Expanded eligibility to cover hours the parent or caretaker requires sleep following completion of overnight work shift;
- No changes to the amounts of subsidy and co-payment for the duration of the eligibility period, unless to the family’s benefit;
- Abolished the requirement for the parent or caretaker to pay an advanced co-payment prior to enrollment;
- Children who turn 13 during the eligibility period will continue to receive the subsidy until the eligibility period ends;
- Codifying payment practices permitting tiered reimbursement for providers who voluntarily exceed the basic health and safety requirements;
- Codifying payment practices based on enrollment and not attendance, to include increasing the number of permitted absences from 25 to 40 per fiscal year;
- After five consecutive days absent, the child maintains eligibility, but the enrollment is suspended until the child returns to care; and
- Establishment of waiver provisions and periods of presumptive eligibility for particular populations, including victims of domestic violence and families experiencing homelessness.
Proposed changes to the subsidized child care eligibility regulations at 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3041 will be published effective tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, and starting tomorrow can be viewed in the PA Bulletin. Once available, please navigate to the issue dated Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020.
You can review the current regulations by clicking here.
Dates to know
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Nov. 14, 2020: Public Comment Period Opens
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Dec. 14, 2020: Public Comment Period Closes
How to submit your comments
All public comments must be submitted in writing by the closing date of the public comment period on Dec. 14, 2020.
All comments, suggestions or objections should reference the regulation number(s), section(s), and subsection(s), and must be submitted in writing. Please select the one way to submit comments which best fits your situation.
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Email submit to: RA-ocdsubchildcare@pa.gov
- Fax submit to: 717-214-6575
- US mail submit to:
Michael Ordonez
Office of Child Development and Early Learning
333 Market Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
If respondents would like a response, they should include their contact information.
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