| (a) Based on local factors, including a market rate
survey provided by the Commission, a Board shall establish maximum
reimbursement rates for child care subsidies at or above a level established
by the Commission to ensure that the rates provide equal access to
child care in the local market and in a manner consistent with state
and federal statutes and regulations governing child care. At a minimum,
Boards shall establish reimbursement rates for full-day and part-day
units of service, as described in §809.93(f) of this chapter,
for the following:
(1) Provider types:
(A) Licensed child care centers, including before-
or after-school programs and school-age programs, as defined by CCR;
(B) Licensed child care homes as defined by CCR;
(C) Registered child care homes as defined by CCR;
and
(D) Relative child care providers as defined in §809.2
of this chapter.
(2) Age groups in each provider type effective prior
to December 1, 2023:
(A) Infants age 0 to 17 months;
(B) Toddlers age 18 to 35 months;
(C) Preschool age children from 36 to 71 months; and
(D) School-age children 72 months and older.
(3) Age groups in each provider type effective December
1, 2023:
(A) Infants ages 0 through 11 months;
(B) Infants ages 12 through 17 months;
(C) Toddlers ages 18 through 23 months;
(D) Toddlers age 2 years;
(E) Preschool age 3 years;
(F) Preschool age 4 years;
(G) Preschool age 5 years; and
(H) School-age 6 years and older.
(b) A Board shall establish enhanced reimbursement
rates:
(1) for all age groups at certified Texas Rising Star
provider facilities; and
(2) only for infant, toddler, and preschool-age children
at child care providers that participate in integrated school readiness
models for those age groups pursuant to Texas Education Code, §29.160.
(c) The minimum enhanced reimbursement rates established
under subsection (b) of this section shall be greater than the maximum
rate established for providers not meeting the requirements of subsection
(b) of this section for the same category of care up to, but not to
exceed, the provider's published rate. The maximum rate must be at
least:
(1) 5 percent greater for a:
(A) certified Two-Star Provider; or
(B) child care provider meeting the requirements of
subsection (b)(2) of this section;
(2) 7 percent greater for a certified Three-Star Provider;
and
(3) 9 percent greater for a certified Four-Star Provider.
(d) Boards may establish a higher enhanced reimbursement
rate than those specified in subsection (c) of this section for certified
Texas Rising Star providers, as long as there is a minimum 2 percentage
point difference between each star level.
(e) A Board or its child care contractor shall ensure
that providers that are reimbursed for additional staff or equipment
needed to assist in the care of a child with disabilities are paid
a rate up to 190 percent of the provider's reimbursement rate for
a child of that same age. The higher rate shall take into consideration
the estimated cost of the additional staff or equipment needed by
a child with disabilities. The Board shall ensure that a professional,
who is familiar with assessing the needs of children with disabilities,
certifies the need for the higher reimbursement rate described in
this subsection.
(f) The Board shall determine whether to reimburse
providers that offer transportation as long as the combined total
of the provider's published rate, plus the transportation rate, is
subject to the maximum reimbursement rate established in subsection
(a) of this section.
(g) A Board may establish a higher enhanced reimbursement
rate for nontraditional hours, as defined by the Board.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §809.20 adopted to be effective January 29, 2007, 32 TexReg 336; amended to be effective September 8, 2008, 33 TexReg 7568; amended to be effective January 8, 2013, 38 TexReg 155; amended to be effective February 16, 2015, 40 TexReg 708; amended to be effective October 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 7529; amended to be effective July 6, 2020, 45 TexReg 4528; amended to be effective October 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 6437 |
