Child care assistance eligibility—disability of a parent in a two-parent household, 170.2(2)“b”
ARC 6430C
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT[441]
Notice of Intended Action
Proposing rule making related to child care assistance eligibility
and providing an opportunity for public comment
The Human Services Department hereby proposes to amend Chapter 170, "Child Care Services," Iowa Administrative Code.
Legal Authority for Rule Making
This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 234.6.
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 237A.13 as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2252.
Purpose and Summary
These proposed amendments implement changes based on 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2252, which removes language from Iowa Code section 237A.13 that previously required a medical incapacity to be temporary in order for a parent to be eligible for child care assistance (CCA). Removal of this requirement will allow a family with one permanently disabled parent to be CCA-eligible based upon the needs of the parent who is not disabled.
Fiscal Impact
A fiscal impact of greater than $100,000, but less than $500,000, is expected over the next five years as a result of this rule making. This rule making is expected to increase overall demand for child care services as eligibility requirements are revised for CCA for disabled parents. The additional costs will be absorbed in the CCA budget with the balance of the federal Child Care Development Fund.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to rule 441—1.8(17A,217).
Public Comment
Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m.on August 16, 2022. Comments should be directed to:
Nancy Freudenberg Department of Human Services Hoover State Office Building, Fifth Floor 1305 East Walnut Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0114 Email: appeals@dhs.state.ia.us |
Public Hearing
No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
The following rule-making actions are proposed:
Item 1. Amend paragraph 170.2(2)"b," introductory paragraph, as follows:
b. Need for service. Except for assistance provided under subparagraph 170.2(2)"b"(3), assistance shall be provided to a two-parent family only during the parents' coinciding hours of participation in training, employment, or job search unless one parent is permanently disabled as described in subparagraph 170.2(2)"b"(4). Each parent in the household shall meet one or more of the following requirements:
Item 2. Amend subparagraph 170.2(2)"b"(4) as follows:
(4)The parent is absent from the home due to inpatient hospitalization or outpatient treatment because of physical or mental illness, or is present but due to medical incapacity is unable to care for the child or participate in work or training, as verified by a physician.
1.Eligibility under this paragraph is limited to parents who become temporarily medically incapacitated, or to instances of one parent in a two-parent household being permanently disabled, while eligible for child care assistance based on the need criteria in subparagraph 170.2(2)"b"(1) or 170.2(2)"b"(2).
2.Child care assistance shall continue to be available for up to 90 consecutive days after the parent becomes medically incapacitated. Assistance beyond 90 days may be approved by the service area manager or designee if extenuating circumstances are verified by a physician.
3.The number of units of service authorized shall be determined as follows:
●For a single-parent family or for a two-parent family where both parents are incapacitated, the number of units authorized for the period of incapacity shall not exceed the number of units authorized for the family before the onset of incapacity.
●For a two-parent family where only one parent is temporarily incapacitated, the units of service authorized shall be based on the need of the parent who is not incapacitated.
●For a two-parent family, if one of the parents has a permanent disability and is unable to care for the child or participate in work or training, the disabled parent does not need to meet another need for service requirement. The units of service authorized shall be based only on the need of the parent who is not disabled.
This notice is now closed for comments. Collection of comments closed on 8/16/2022.
The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.
View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 7/27/2022.
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