Price (HB 249) Act No. 787
Existing law requires the secretary of the Department 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. New law adds a requirement for the secretary to ensure
that the state plan conforms with the requirements of new law relative to access to child care
assistance by homeless families.
New law establishes that its purposes include, without limitation, the following:
(1)To mitigate barriers that Louisiana 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.
New law defines "department", for purposes of new law, as DCFS or its successor as
administrator of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program in this state.
New 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.
New law requires the department to promulgate rules, institute policies, secure requisite
federal approvals, and undertake any other actions as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of new law.
New law provides that new law shall be known and may be cited as the "Improving Access
to Child Care for Homeless Louisiana Families Act".
Effective upon signature of the governor (June 19, 2014).
(Amends R.S. 36:474(A)(11); Adds R.S. 46:1443-1443.3)