(A) All purchases of publicly funded child care shall be made under a contract entered into by a licensed child day-care center, licensed type A family day-care home, licensed type B family day-care home, certified in-home aide, approved child day camp, licensed preschool program, licensed school child program, or border state child care provider and the department of job and family services. All contracts for publicly funded child care shall be contingent upon the availability of state and federal funds. The department shall prescribe a standard form to be used for all contracts for the purchase of publicly funded child care, regardless of the source of public funds used to purchase the child care. To the extent permitted by federal law and notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code that regulates state contracts or contracts involving the expenditure of state or federal funds, all contracts for publicly funded child care shall be entered into in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and are exempt from any other provision of the Revised Code that regulates state contracts or contracts involving the expenditure of state or federal funds.

(B) Each contract for publicly funded child care shall specify at least the following:

(1) That the provider of publicly funded child care agrees to be paid for rendering services at the lower of the rate customarily charged by the provider for children enrolled for child care or the reimbursement ceiling or rate of payment established pursuant to section 5104.30 of the Revised Code;

(2) That, if a provider provides child care to an individual potentially eligible for publicly funded child care who is subsequently determined to be eligible, the department agrees to pay for all child care provided between the date the county department of job and family services receives the individual's completed application and the date the individual's eligibility is determined;

(3) Whether the county department of job and family services, the provider, or a child care resource and referral service organization will make eligibility determinations, whether the provider or a child care resource and referral service organization will be required to collect information to be used by the county department to make eligibility determinations, and the time period within which the provider or child care resource and referral service organization is required to complete required eligibility determinations or to transmit to the county department any information collected for the purpose of making eligibility determinations;

(4) That the provider, other than a border state child care provider, shall continue to be licensed, approved, or certified pursuant to this chapter and shall comply with all standards and other requirements in this chapter and in rules adopted pursuant to this chapter for maintaining the provider's license, approval, or certification;

(5) That, in the case of a border state child care provider, the provider shall continue to be licensed, certified, or otherwise approved by the state in which the provider is located and shall comply with all standards and other requirements established by that state for maintaining the provider's license, certificate, or other approval;

(6) Whether the provider will be paid by the state department of job and family services or in some other manner as prescribed by rules adopted under section 5104.42 of the Revised Code;

(7) That the contract is subject to the availability of state and federal funds.

(C)

(1) The department shall establish an automated child care system to track attendance and calculate payments for publicly funded child care.

(2) Each eligible provider that provides publicly funded child care shall participate in the automated child care system. A provider participating in the system shall not do any of the following:

(a) Use or have possession of a personal identification number or password issued to a caretaker parent under the automated child care system;

(b) Falsify attendance records;

(c) Knowingly seek or accept payment for publicly funded child care that was not provided or for which the provider was not eligible;

(d) Knowingly seek or accept payment for child care provided to a child who resides in the provider's own home.

(D) The department may withhold any money due under this chapter and may recover through any appropriate method any money erroneously paid under this chapter if evidence demonstrates that a provider of publicly funded child care failed to comply with either of the following:

(1) The terms of the contract entered into under this section;

(2) This chapter or any rules adopted under it.

(E) If the department has evidence that a provider has employed an individual who is ineligible for employment under section 5104.013 of the Revised Code and the provider has not released the individual from employment upon notice that the individual is ineligible, the department may terminate immediately the contract entered into under this section to provide publicly funded child care.

(F) Any decision by the department concerning publicly funded child care, including the recovery of funds, overpayment determinations, and contract terminations is final and is not subject to appeal, hearing, or further review under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Amended by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §110.20, eff. 1/1/2014.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.128, SB 316, §120.01, eff. 1/1/2014.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 06-26-2003; 05-18-2005; 06-30-2005