§ 40-6.2-1.1. Rates established. (a) Through June 30, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family-childcare providers shall be based on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

Effective July 1, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family-childcare providers shall be based on the above schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates. These rates shall be increased by ten dollars ($10.00) per week for infant/toddler care provided by licensed family-childcare providers and license-exempt providers and then the rates for all providers for all age groups shall be increased by three percent (3%). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, licensed childcare centers shall be reimbursed a maximum weekly rate of one hundred ninety-three dollars and sixty-four cents ($193.64) for infant/toddler care and one hundred sixty-one dollars and seventy-one cents ($161.71) for preschool-age children.

(b) Effective July l, 2018, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum infant/toddler and preschool-age reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state's quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1.

(1) For infant/toddler childcare, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half percent (2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed twenty percent (20%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed thirty-three percent (33%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount.

(2) For preschool reimbursement rates, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half (2.5%) percent above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed ten percent (10%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-one percent (21%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount.

(c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4].

(d) By June 30, 2004, and biennially through June 30, 2014, the department of labor and training shall conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the then current weekly market rates for childcare in Rhode Island and shall forward such weekly market rate survey to the department of human services. The next survey shall be conducted by June 30, 2016, and triennially thereafter. The departments of human services and labor and training will jointly determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, rate categories and sub-categories.

(e) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality childcare, the department of human services is authorized to establish by regulation alternative or incentive rates of reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized childcare and alternative methodologies of childcare delivery, including non-traditional delivery systems and collaborations.

(f) Effective January 1, 2007, all childcare providers have the option to be paid every two (2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of reimbursement payments.

(g) Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum infant/toddler reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed family childcare providers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within the state's quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Tier one shall be reimbursed two percent (2%) above the prevailing base rate for step 1 and step 2 providers, three percent (3%) above prevailing base rate for step 3 providers, and four percent (4%) above the prevailing base rate for step 4 providers; tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the prevailing base rate; tier three shall be reimbursed eleven percent (11%) above the prevailing base rate; tier four shall be reimbursed fourteen percent (14%) above the prevailing base rate; and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-three percent (23%) above the prevailing base rate.

History of Section. (P.L. 1987, ch. 546, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 163, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 129, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 131, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 132, § 13; P.L. 1996, ch. 133, § 13; P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 34, § 4; P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 11, § 3; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 27, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 10, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 14, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 601, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 612, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 15, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 27, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 17, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 15, § 7; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4.)