DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Price HB No. 249
Abstract: Provides for access to child care assistance by homeless families through the Child
Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program.
Present law requires the secretary of the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to
prepare and submit a state plan for participation in the federal Child Care and Development
Block Grant Program. Proposed law retains present law and adds requirement for the secretary
to ensure that the state plan conforms with the requirements of proposed law relative to access to
child care assistance by homeless families.
Proposed law establishes that its purposes include, without limitation, the following:
(1)To mitigate barriers that La. families experiencing homelessness face in accessing child
care.
(2)To reduce the incidence of developmental delays and physical and mental health
problems among young children who experience homelessness by providing access to
quality child care.
Proposed law defines "department", for purposes of proposed law, as the DCFS or its successor
as administrator of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program in this state.
Proposed law requires the secretary of the department to take such actions as are necessary to
accomplish all of the following:
(1)Ensure that services to families experiencing homelessness are included within the CCDF
state plan if allowable as a use of Child Care and Development Block Grant funding
pursuant to federal regulations.
(2)Establish a grace period of a defined duration in which a homeless family can be
authorized to receive subsidized child care pending submission of birth certificates and
immunization records, as long as all other eligibility factors are met.
(3)Waive requirements relative to hours of work and school engagement for homeless
parents who apply for child care assistance and demonstrate that they are seeking
employment or participating in a transitional living program for a period of not less than
90 days and not more than 180 days from the effective date of the certification for child care assistance.
(4)Collaborate and coordinate efforts with all of the following persons and entities to
improve access by homeless families to information concerning child care and
transportation to child care placements:
(a)Local child care programs.
(b)Local educational agency liaisons designated pursuant to the McKinney-Vento
Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act.
(c)Any other persons and entities that provide services to homeless families.
(5)Collect data that indicates whether parents who receive child care subsidies are homeless.
Proposed law requires the department to promulgate rules in accordance with the APA, institute
policies, secure requisite federal approvals, and undertake any other actions as may be necessary
to implement the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that proposed law shall be known and may be cited as the "Improving
Access to Child Care for Homeless Louisiana Families Act".
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 36:474(A)(11); Adds R.S. 46:1443-1443.3)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to the
original bill.
1. Revised legislative finding relative to the Child Care and Development Fund plan to
recognize that the plan authorizes the same services for homeless families as for other
low-income families, but does not address other eligibility factors that may be a
barrier for homeless families in seeking child care assistance.
2. Deleted a requirement that DCFS allow for a homeless child to enroll immediately in
subsidized care pending submission of necessary entry documentation. Added in lieu
thereof a requirement that DCFS establish a grace period of a defined duration in
which a homeless family can be authorized to receive subsidized child care pending
submission of birth certificates and immunization records, provided that all other
eligibility factors are met.
3. In proposed law requiring a homeless family to demonstrate that they are seeking
employment or participating in a transitional living program in order to qualify for child care assistance, added stipulation that the employment search or transitional
living program participation be for a period of at least 90 days and not more than 180
days from the effective date of the certification for child care assistance.