Report Title:

At-Home Infant Child Care Program

Description:

Establishes the at-home infant child care program for the State. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1208

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to the AT-HOME Infant CHILD CARE PROGRAM.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that numerous studies document a shortage of infant child care nationwide and in Hawaii. It is increasingly more difficult for low-income parents to attain affordable child care that meets basic needs and safety standards. Furthermore, the cost of quality child care is steadily increasing, making it more difficult for low-income families to afford infant care.

It has been documented that child care is an effective tool in helping families move from welfare into work. The lack of quality infant child care can make it more difficult for parents to obtain employment, retain employment, and move into better jobs. Furthermore, parents who are responsible caretakers will choose to miss work when their children are in unsafe and unhealthy care situations, a choice that may jeopardize the family's economic security.

Research demonstrates the importance of quality care in an infant's first year for enhancing brain development and cognitive abilities. Furthermore, it is in the best interest of each child to be nurtured in a quality infant care setting. However, the best quality of child care is often available from the child's own parent. Research supports the notion that, for many low-income families, this option better helps parents care for an infant child.

SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part VIII to be appropriately designated to read as follows:

"     . AT-HOME INFANT CHILD CARE PROGRAM

§346-   At-home infant child care program. (a) Parents in an eligible family may receive a subsidy to care for an infant child under two years of age if the family:

(1) Is not receiving child care assistance;

(2) Is at or below one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty level for the State;

(3) Has not previously received a life-time total of twenty-four months of assistance under this section; and

(4) Provides verification of participating in an authorized activity at the time of application and meets the program requirements.

(b) A family is eligible for assistance if one parent cares for the family's infant child. The eligible parent must:

(1) Be over the age of eighteen; and

(2) Care for the infant full-time in the infant's home.

(c) A participating family shall report income and other family changes to the department of human services.

(d) A person participating in the at-home infant child care program under this part shall not forfeit any other public assistance the person may be receiving. Upon leaving the at-home infant child care program, a person shall resume participation in any other public assistance programs in which the person may have been participating with the same status the person had prior to participating in the at-home infant child care program.

(e) Family members may participate in education and work activities as long as one or both parents provide care full-time for the infant.

(f) The at-home infant child care program shall be implemented and funded through the department of human services, which shall:

(1) Determine appropriate funding for the program by utilizing available funds;

(2) Develop and distribute consumer information on the program to assist parents of infants or expectant parents in making informed child care decisions; and

(3) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement the purposes of this part.

(g) For purposes of this part, "parent" means birth parent, adoptive parent, stepparent, or legal guardian.

(h) Assistance under this part does not establish an employer-employee relationship between any member of the assisted family and the State."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.