DAR File No. 39395

Workforce Services, Employment Development

Rule R986-700

Child Care Assistance

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39395
Filed: 05/15/2015 11:24:34 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to change the method of payment to child care providers.

Summary of the rule or change:

Previously, the Department paid parents directly and the parent was responsible to pay the provider. The Department will now pay the provider directly. This change explains how those payments will be made and include some other housekeeping changes to mirror federal regulations.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 35A-3-310
• Subsection 35A-1-104(4)
• Section 35A-1-104

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This applies to federally-funded programs so there are no costs or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

This applies to federally-funded programs so there are no costs or savings to local governments.

small businesses:

There will be no costs to small businesses to comply with these changes because this is a federally-funded program.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There will be no costs to persons other than small businesses, businesses or local government entities to comply with these changes because there are no costs or fees associated with these proposed changes.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for this change to anyone, including persons affected by this change.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no compliance costs associated with this change. There are no fees associated with this change. There will be no cost to anyone to comply with these changes. There will be no fiscal impact on any business.

Jon Pierpont, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Workforce Services
Employment Development
140 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2333

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Suzan Pixton at the above address, by phone at 801-526-9645, by FAX at 801-526-9211, or by Internet E-mail at spixton@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/01/2015

This rule may become effective on:

07/08/2015

Authorized by:

Jon Pierpont, Executive Director

R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development.

R986-700. Child Care Assistance.

R986-700-703. Client Rights and Responsibilities.

In addition to the client rights and responsibilities found in R986-100, the following client rights and responsibilities apply:

(1) A client has the right to select the type of child care which best meets the family's needs.

(2) If a client requests help in selecting a provider, the Department will refer the client to the local Care About Child Care agency.

(3) A client is responsible for monitoring the child care provider. The Department will not monitor the provider.

(4) A client is responsible to pay all costs of care charged by the provider. If the child care assistance payment provided by the Department is less than the amount charged by the provider, the client is responsible for paying the provider the difference.

(5) The only changes a client must report to the Department within ten days of the change occurring are:

(a) that the household's gross monthly income exceeds the percentage of the state median income as determined by the Department in R986-700-710(3);

(b) that the client is no longer in an approved training or educational program;

(c) if the client's [and/or child's ]schedule changes so that child care is no longer needed during the hours of approved employment and/or training activities;

(d) that the client does not meet the minimum work requirements of an average of 15 hours per week or 15 and 30 hours per week when two parents are in the household and it is expected to continue;

(e) the client is separated from his or her employment;

(f) a change of address;

(g) any of the following changes in household composition; a parent, stepparent, spouse, or former spouse moves into the home, a child receiving child care moves out of the home, or the client gets married; or

(h) a change in the child care provider, including when care is provided at no cost.

(6) If a material change which would result in a decrease in the amount of the CC payment is reported within 10 days, the decrease will be made effective beginning the next month and sums received in the month in which the change occurred will not be treated as an overpayment. If it is too late to make the change to the next month's CC payment, the client is responsible for repayment even if the 10 days for reporting the change has not expired. If the client fails to report the change within 10 days, the decrease will occur as soon as the Department learns of the change and the overpayment will be assessed back to the date of the change.

(7) [A client is responsible for payment to the Department of any overpayment made in CC.]If an overpayment is established and it is determined that the client was at fault in the creation of the overpayment, the client must repay the overpayment to the Department. In some situations, the client and provider may be jointly liable. In the case of joint liability, both parties can be held liable for the entire overpayment.

(8) The Department is authorized to release the following information to the designated provider:

(a) limited information regarding the status of a CC payment including that no payment was issued or services were denied;

(b) the date the child care subsidy was issued;

(c) the subsidy amount for that provider;

(d) the copayment amount;

(e) information available in the Department Provider Portal. The Provider Portal provides a provider with computer access to limited, secure information;[the date a two party check was mailed to the client;]

[(f) a copy of the two party check on a need to know basis;

]([g]f) the month the client is scheduled for review[ or reestablishment,];

([h]g) the date the client's application was received; and

([i]h) general information about what additional information and/or verification is needed to approve CC such as the client's work schedule and income.

(9) Unused child care funds issued on the client's electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card will be removed from ("aged off") the EBT card 90 days after those funds were deposited onto the EBT card. Aged off funds will no longer be available to the client.

(10) If a client uses a child care provider at least eight hours during the first week of the calendar month, and that provider has been paid for that month, the Department will not pay another provider for child care for the rest of that month even if the client changed providers. However, if it is the provider that decided not to provide care and the client is required to change providers, the Department may pay that second provider for a portion of that same month.

 

R986-700-705. Eligible Providers and Provider Settings.

(1) The Department will only pay CC to clients who select eligible providers. The only eligible providers are:

(a) providers regulated through Department of Health Child Care Licensing (CCL):

(i) licensed homes;

(ii) licensed child care centers; and

(iii) homes with a residential certificate.

(b) license exempt providers who are not required by law to be licensed and are either;

(i) license exempt centers as defined in R430-8-3. Programs or centers must have a current letter of exempt status from CCL and have at least one person who is trained in first aid and infant/child CPR who must be with the children at all times including when the children are being transported in a vehicle. Current verification of first aid and CPR training must be provided to CCL prior to Department approval.  License exempt centers will be required to have background checks on all staff pursuant to CCL rules; or

(ii) DWS Family, Friend and Neighbor providers (FFN) as approved by CCL. The requirements for FFN approval are provided in subsection (3) of this section and in Department policy.

(2) The following providers are not eligible for receipt of a CC payment:

(a) a provider living in the same home as the parent client unless the provider is caring for a child who has special needs who cannot be otherwise accommodated;

(b) a sibling of the child living in the home can never be approved, even for a special needs child;

(c) a parent, foster care parent, stepparent or former stepparent, even if living in another residence;

(d) undocumented aliens;

(e) persons under age 18;

(f) a provider providing care for the child in another state;

(g) a provider who has committed an IPV as a provider, or as a recipient of any funds from the Office of Child Care including subsidy and grant payments, as determined by the Department or by a court. The disqualification for an IPV will remain in effect until the IPV disqualification period has run, any resulting overpayment has been satisfied, and the provider is otherwise eligible[ including meeting the requirements of background checks under R986-700-753];

(h) any provider disqualified under R986-700-718;

(i) a provider who does not provide necessary information or cooperate with a Department investigation or audit or is not an approved provider;[of a potential overpayment;;] or

(j) a provider whose child care subsidies are being taken pursuant to an IRS levy or garnishment.

(3) FFN providers will not be approved for a CC subsidy payment unless all of the following requirements have been successfully completed and verification has been provided to CCL:

(a) complete, sign and submit an application to CCL;

(b) provide a copy of a certificate of completion of New Provider orientation and agree to comply with Department requirements and policy as explained in the orientation;

(c) pass a home inspection as provided in Department policy;

(d) complete an infant/child CPR training;

(e) complete first aid training; and,

(f) the provider and all individuals 12 years old or older living in the home where care is provided must submit to and pass a background check as provided in R986-700-751 et seq.

(4) A FFN provider must also comply with all Department policy including abiding by the ratio requirements.

(5) FFN approval must be renewed annually. Renewal information is found in Department or CCL policy. The FFN CC provider must complete and submit a renewal application, together with any information, verifications or releases required or requested by the Department or CCL, 30 calendar days before the expiration date of the current approval.

(6) FFN CCL provider approval is for the provider and the location(s) and is not assignable or transferable.

(7) A FFN provider or applicant has a right to file an appeal when an adverse action has been taken against him or her in regards to FFN approval status or health and safety compliance. Prior to filing an appeal, the provider or applicant must request a review with the CCL manager. If unresolved after that review, the provider may file an appeal by requesting a fair hearing with DWS in accordance with R986-1-123 et seq.

 

R986-700-706. Provider Rights and Responsibilities.

(1) Providers assume the responsibility to collect copayments and any other fees for child care services rendered. Neither the Department nor the state of Utah assumes responsibility for payment to providers.

(2) A provider may not charge clients receiving a CC subsidy a higher rate than their customers who do not receive a CC subsidy.

(3) Providers must keep accurate records of subsidized child care payments, and time and attendance. The Department has the right to investigate child care providers and audit their records. Time and attendance records for all subsidized clients must be kept for at least one year.[  If a provider fails to cooperate with a Department investigation or audit, or fails to keep records for one year, the provider will no longer be an approved provider.]

(4) Providers must provide initial verification information to determine eligibility. Providers must also cooperate with an investigation or audit to determine ongoing eligibility or if eligibility was correctly determined. Cooperation includes providing information and verification and returning telephone calls or responding to emails from Department employees or other persons authorized by the Department to obtain information such as an employee of ORS in a timely manner. "A timely manner" is usually considered to be ten business days for written documentation and two business days to return a phone call or email request. Providing incomplete or incorrect information will be treated the same as a failure to provide information if the incorrect or insufficient information results in an improper decision with regard to the eligibility. Failure to disclose a material fact that might affect the eligibility determination can also lead to criminal prosecution. If a provider fails to cooperate with an investigation or audit, provide any and all information or verification requested, or fails to keep records for one year, the provider without good cause, will no longer be an approved provider. Good cause is limited to circumstances where the provider can show that the reasons for the delay in filing were due to circumstances beyond the provider's control or were compelling and reasonable. The period the provider will not be an approved provider will be from the date the information or verification was due until when it is received by the Department.

([4]5) If a provider accepts payment from funds provided by the Department for services which were not provided, the provider is responsible for repayment of the resulting overpayment[the provider may be referred for criminal prosecution and will no longer be an approved provider following the procedure outlined in section R986-700-718. This is true even if the funds were authorized under R986-700-718.] and there may be a disqualification period and/or criminal prosecution.

[(5) If an overpayment is established and it is determined that the provider was at fault in the creation of the overpayment, the provider is responsible for repayment of the overpayment.

](6) CCL will keep a list of all providers that have been disqualified as a provider[Records will be kept by the Department for individuals who are not approved providers and] or against whom a referral or complaint is received.

(7) All providers, except FFN providers as defined in R986-700-705(1)(b)(ii), are required to report their child care rates to the local Care About Child Care agency.

(8) Providers are required to access the Provider Portal at jobs.utah.gov/childcare and:

(a) submit and manage bank account information;

(b) read and agree to the terms and conditions contained in the Provider Guide;

(c) view child care payment information;

(d) certify, every month, that the provider has provided care for the children on the "Children in Care" screen in the Provider Portal. If the provider does not certify this information by the date requested by the Department, payment will not be made until the information is provided and the payment may be prorated.

(e) report the following changes within 10 days, or by the monthly certification date, whichever is sooner:

(i) a child is no longer in child care;

(ii) a child was not in child care during that month;

(iii) that the provider decided not to charge the full subsidy amount for one month. The provider should notify the Department and the difference will be deducted from the next payment;

(iv) that a child attended for less than eight hours in the first week of the month, payment for the month was received and the child is not expected to return; or

(v) a change in bank account information for direct deposit.

(9) Providers are required to submit a W-9 Form and the Department will issue a 1099 annually.

(10) A provider who provides services for any part of a month and then terminates services with the client/child during the month, must reimburse the Department for the days when care was not provided. However, if it was necessary to remove the child from care because the child or others were endangered, and the incident was reported to CCL or local authorities, the Department may waive repayment.

 

R986-700-708. FEP CC.

[(1) ]FEP CC may be provided to clients receiving financial assistance from FEP or FEPTP. FEP CC will only be provided to cover the hours a client needs child care to support the activities required by the employment plan. FEP CC is not subject to the copayment.

[(2) Additional time for travel may be included on a case by case basis when circumstances create a hardship for the client because the required activities necessitate travel of distances taking at least one hour each way.

]

R986-700-714. CC Payment Method.

(1) [CC payments to parents will be generated monthly by a two-party check issued in the parent's name and the chosen provider's name, except as noted in paragraph (2) below. The check is mailed to the client.]The Department will issue payment to the provider by direct deposit. For open, ongoing cases, payment will be issued on the first day of the month for services to be provided during that month. The provider must provide a valid bank account number before payment can be made. The provider is not an employee of the Department, the Office of Child Care, or the state of Utah even if the provider is only providing care for one client.

(2) [CC payments will be made by electronic benefit transfer (EBT) either through a point of sale (POS) machine or interactive voice recording (IVR) system to authorized provider types as determined by the Department. The provider may elect which option of EBT to use. The provider must complete the application process and sign an agreement with the Department's contractor in order to be eligible to receive CC payments. If the provider elects to use the POS method of payment, the provider must lease a POS machine at the provider's own expense. Providers that completed the application process prior to August 1, 2011 need to provide additional information to the Department contractor. If the provider does not provide this additional information, the provider will not be eligible for CC payments as of January 1, 2012.]Under unusual or extraordinary circumstances, the Department can issue payment by check. If a provider cannot obtain a bank account for direct deposit, the provider must contact the Department and explain why direct deposit is not possible.

(3) In the event that a check is reported as lost or stolen, [both the parent and ]the provider [are]is required to sign a statement that they have not received funds from the original check before a replacement check can be issued. The check must be reported as lost or stolen within 60 days of the date the check was mailed. The statement must be signed on an approved Department form[ and the signing witnessed, and in some cases notarized, at a local office of the Department. If the provider is unable to come into a Department office to sign the form, the form may be accepted if the signature is notarized]. If the original check has been redeemed, the Department will conduct an investigation and the provider, or the parent and provider in the case of a two party check, may be required to[a copy of the check will be reviewed and both the parent and provider must] provide a sworn, notarized statement that the signature on the endorsed check is a forgery.   If the Department determines the redeemed check was a forgery, [T]the Department may require a waiting period prior to issuing a replacement check.

(4) The Department is authorized to stop payment on a CC check without prior notice[ to the client] if:

(a) the Department has determined that the client or the provider was not eligible for the CC payment, the Department has confirmed with the child care provider that no services were provided for the month in question or the provider cannot be located, and the Department has made an attempt to contact the [parent]provider: or

(b) when the check has been outstanding for at least 90 days; or

(c) the check is lost or stolen.

(5) No stop payment will be issued by the Department without prior notice to the provider unless the provider is not providing services or cannot be contacted.

 

R986-700-715. Overpayments.

(1) An overpayment occurs when a client or provider received CC for which they were not eligible including when a provider accepts payment but does not provide care. If the Department fails to establish one or more of the eligibility criteria and through no fault of the client, payments are made, it will not be considered to have been an overpayment if the client would have been eligible and the amount of the subsidy would not have been affected.

[(2) If a parent or provider commits an IPV, as defined in R986-100-117, the parent or provider will be responsible for repayment of the overpayment and will be disqualified from receipt of any funds from the Office of Child Care, including subsidy funds, grants and funds as a provider:

(a) for a period of one year for the first IPV;

(b) for a period of two years for the second IPV; and

(c) for life for the third IPV.

(3) If the client was at fault in the creation of an overpayment for any reason other than an IPV as provided in paragraph (2) above, the client will be responsible for repayment of the overpayment. There is no disqualification or ineligibility period for a fault overpayment.](2) Even if CC funds are authorized by the Department, a CC provider cannot receive and retain funds for any month during which no CC services were provided. If authorized or unauthorized subsidy funds received and retained by a provider but no CC services were provided during the month, the provider will be required to reimburse the Department for the excess funds and may be disqualified from receipt of further CC subsidy funds as provided in R986-700-718. A provider is considered to have retained subsidy funds if the provider knew or should have known the child would not receive services that month and fails to notify the Department within ten days or the provider does not notify the Department within ten days of the end of the month when the child was not in care at least eight hours that month.

([4]3) All CC overpayments must be repaid to the Department.

(a) Client [O]verpayments may be deducted from ongoing CC payments for clients who are receiving CC. If the Department is at fault in the creation of an overpayment, the Department will deduct $10 from each month's CC payment unless the client requests a larger amount.

(b) Provider overpayments. If a provider does not repay any outstanding overpayment within 30 days of notice of the overpayment, the Department will commence collection procedures which may include recouping the overpayment by deducting a portion of the overpayment from ongoing child care subsidies from the Department. This is true even if the child or client no longer receives child care from the provider. The decision whether to recoup the overpayment from ongoing child care payments or to commence collection procedures lies with the Department and not the provider or client/s.

(i) If the Department elects to recoup the overpayment from ongoing child care payments, and the overpayment is less than $1,000, the Department will recoup the full amount within 90 days. If the overpayment is more than $1,000 the Department will recoup the amount within six months. If the recoupment presents a hardship because it is more than 50% of the provider's ongoing monthly subsidy amount, the provider can contact the Department to discuss alternative arrangements for repayment.

(ii) If a provider stops providing care and has a balance due on an overpayment, and seeks approval to become a provider at a later date, approval cannot be granted until the overpayment is paid in full even if any disqualification period has expired.

([5]4) CC will be terminated if a client fails to cooperate with the Department's efforts to investigate alleged overpayments.

([6]5) If the Department has reason to believe an overpayment has occurred and it is likely that the client will be determined to be disqualified or ineligible as a result of the overpayment, payment of future CC may be withheld, at the discretion of the Department, to offset any overpayment which may be determined.

(6) A CC provider may appeal an overpayment as provided for public assistance appeals in rule R986-100. Any appeal must be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of the notice of agency action establishing the overpayment.

(7) If a provider receives and retains three overpayments in a rolling 12 month period, the provider will be taken off the approved provider list until all outstanding overpayments are paid in full, even if the time frames outlined in subsection (3)(b)(i) of this section have not expired.

 

R986-700-718. Provider Disqualification.

(1) If a parent or provider commits an IPV, as defined in R986-100-117, the parent or provider will be responsible for repayment of the overpayment, if there is one, and will be disqualified from receipt of any funds from the Office of Child Care, including subsidy funds, grants and funds as a provider or as a parent:

(a) for a period of one year for the first IPV;

(b) for a period of two years for the second IPV; and

(c) for life for the third IPV.

(2) If the overpayment resulted from parent or provider fault not amounting to fraud or an agency error, the client and or provider will be responsible for repayment of the overpayment. There is no disqualification or ineligibility period for a fault overpayment.

[(1) A child care provider removing child care subsidy funds from a client's account by way of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) and interactive voice response (IVR), can only remove those funds from a client's account that are authorized by the Department for that provider. All providers receiving payment for child care services through an EBT may learn the exact amount authorized for that provider for each client by accessing the Department's Provider Payment Authorization website. Providers who remove more funds than authorized will be required to reimburse the Department for the excess funds and will be disqualified from receipt of further CC subsidy funds as follows;

(a) if the provider has never removed unauthorized CC subsidy funds before, the Department will send a notice of agency action to the provider's last known address informing the provider of the unauthorized access and establishing an overpayment in the amount of the excess funds. If the provider repays the overpayment within six months of the date of the notice of agency action, no further action will be taken on that overpayment. If the provider does not repay the overpayment in full within six months of the notice of agency action the overpayment will become an IPV and the provider will be disqualified as a provider for one year;

(b) if the provider removes funds in excess of those authorized by the Department a subsequent time, there is no outstanding balance on any previous provider overpayment and the provider has never been disqualified, the subsequent overpayment is treated as a first overpayment. The provider will be given six months from the notice of agency action to repay the overpayment under these circumstances. If the subsequent overpayment is not repaid in full within six months of the notice of agency action, the provider will be disqualified for one year. If the provider was previously disqualified, the provider will be given 30 days from the notice of agency action to repay all outstanding overpayments in full, including all prior and subsequent overpayments. If the overpayment/s is/are not paid within 30 days, the provider will be disqualified for a period of two years. If the provider has never been disqualified but has a balance due on a previous overpayment, the provider will be given six months to repay the overpayment but may be disqualified if the first overpayment is not paid in time.

(c) a CC provider that removes unauthorized funds after having been disqualified for a two year period due to unauthorized removal of funds in paragraph (1)(b) of this subsection will be given 30 days from the notice of agency action to repay all outstanding overpayments in full. If the overpayment/s is not paid in full within 30 days, the provider will be permanently disqualified.

(d) each time a provider removes unauthorized funds is a separate offense even if the removal occurs on the same day. If, for instance, a provider removed funds from three separate clients on the same day, it would be three offenses. Likewise, if the provider removed unauthorized funds from the same client three times in different months, it would be three offenses.

(2) Even if CC funds are authorized under this section, a CC provider cannot remove, accept and/or retain funds for any month during which no CC services were provided. If authorized or unauthorized subsidy funds were accepted from a client or removed from a client's account as provided in this section but no CC services were provided during the month, the provider will be required to reimburse the Department for the excess funds and will be disqualified from receipt of further CC subsidy funds in the same manner as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) CC providers disqualified under subsections (1) or (2) of this section will be ineligible for receipt of quality grants awarded by the Department during the period of disqualification.

(4) A CC provider overpayment not paid in full within the time limits specified in subsection (1) of this section will be referred to collection and will be collected in the same manner as all public assistance overpayments. Payment of provider overpayments must be made to the Department and not to the client.

]([5]4) A CC provider may appeal an overpayment or disqualification as provided for public assistance appeals in rule R986-100. Any appeal must be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of the notice of agency action establishing the overpayment or disqualification. A provider who has been [found ineligible]disqualified may continue to receive CC subsidy funds pending appeal until a decision is issued by the ALJ. The disqualification period will take effect even if the provider files an appeal of the decision issued by the ALJ. If the provider fails to file an appeal within 30 days of the date of the notice of agency action and the Department issues a default decision, and the provider files a request to set aside the default, CC subsidy funds will not continue unless or until the default is set aside by the ALJ. If the request to set aside the default is denied, the provider will be disqualified pending appeal of the denial to set aside the default[ unless the provider is within the six month or 30 day grace period allowed under subsection (1) of this section].

([6]5) A provider is ineligible for CC subsidy funds after a disqualification until all overpayments established in conjunction with the disqualification have been paid in full even if the disqualification period has ended.

([7]6) A provider that intentionally breaches any program rule as provided in R986-100-117, except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, or violates CC rule R986-700-706(2) through (5) or who assumes a client's identity in order to gain access to client information or payment of Department funds will be disqualified for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense and for life for the third offense.

([8]7) All disqualification periods run [consecutively]concurrently.

([9]8) A disqualification issued to a provider, including a child care center, under this subsection will follow both the provider, the principal provider, and any successor center or provider.

(a) A "successor" provider, including a child care center, that acquires the business or acquires substantially all of the assets of the provider or child care center. This includes a provider who changes from one status to another like a provider who was disqualified as a licensed family provider who then changes to be a license exempt provider.

(b) "Acquired" means to come into possession of, obtain control of, or obtain the right to use the assets of a business by any legal means including a gift, lease, repossession or purchase. For purposes of succession, a purchase through bankruptcy court proceedings where assets are being liquidated is not considered an acquisition, if the court places restrictions on the transfer of liabilities to the purchaser. It is not necessary to purchase the assets in order to have acquired the right to their use, nor is it necessary for the predecessor to have actually owned the assets for the successor to have acquired them. The right to the use of the asset is the determining factor.

(c) "Assets" are commonly defined to include any property, tangible or intangible, which has value. Assets may also include the acquisition of the name of the business, customers, accounts receivable, patent rights, goodwill, employees, or an agreement by the predecessor not to compete.

(d) "Substantially all" means acquisition of 90 percent or more of all of the predecessor's assets.

(f) A "principal" is the individual or individuals who were responsible for the day to day business of the child care center provided that individual had an ownership interest in the center. An ownership interest includes a shareholder, director or officer of a corporation and a partner, member or manager of a limited liability partnership or company.

 

KEY: child care

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [May 1, ]2015

Notice of Continuation: September 8, 2010

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-3-310; 53A-1b-110