MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representative Roberson

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS RELATING TO THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT PARENTS MEETING CERTAIN INCOME REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE VOUCHERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY BE USED FOR THE EXPENSES OF THEIR CHILDREN ATTENDING PARTICIPATING APPROVED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE VALUE OF A VOUCHER SHALL NOT EXCEED $50.00 PER WEEK; TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS TO BE CERTIFIED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM; TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO REDEEM VOUCHERS SUBMITTED BY PARTICIPATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BY PARTICIPATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The following words and phrases, as used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Approved early childhood education center" means child care facility, as defined in Section 43-20-5, which is licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health and which operates a program or programs for children from birth through four (4) years of age.

(b) "Department" means the Department of Human Services.

(c) "Eligible parent, guardian or custodian" means a person who is head of a household whose family's total income for the prior year is below the federal poverty level.

(d) "Voucher" means a document issued by the Department of Human Services to an eligible parent, guardian or custodian of a preschool child which may be exchanged by an approved early childhood education center with the department for money for the expenses associated with the preschool child attending that early childhood education center.

(2) The Department of Human Services shall establish and implement a program in which an eligible parent, guardian or custodian, upon request, may receive from the department a voucher that may be used for helping defray the cost of his or her child, age birth through four (4) years, attending an approved early childhood education center selected by the child's parent, guardian or custodian. In order to receive vouchers, at least one (1) parent, guardian or custodian of the child must be gainfully employed. Upon the child's admittance to the early childhood education center, the parent, guardian or custodian shall present the voucher to the center. The value of each voucher shall be Fifty dollars ($50.00). Each voucher shall be for a one-week period, regardless of whether the tuition is assessed on a weekly or monthly basis. The cost of attendance at the approved early childhood education center which is not covered by a voucher shall be the responsibility of the child's parent, guardian or custodian. A participating approved early childhood education center may not charge additional tuition to any child enrolled in the center under the voucher program.

(3) If an approved early childhood education center desires to participate in the voucher program, the center shall apply to the department for certification as a participating approved early childhood education center. The department shall prepare and make available to approved early childhood education centers a form for the application process. The department shall conduct such investigation and inquiries as it deems necessary to determine the qualifications of the approved early childhood education center to be certified for participation in the voucher program. Certification as a participating approved early childhood education center shall be valid for each succeeding academic year (August-July) unless revoked by the department or upon the request of the center.

(4) On behalf of each eligible parent, guardian or custodian to whom vouchers are issued, the department shall pay to a participating approved early childhood education center a sum equal to the total value of all vouchers submitted by the center to the department for redemption. The payment to which the early childhood education center is entitled shall be made on a monthly basis.

(5) The department shall require each approved early childhood education center in which children are admitted under the voucher program to provide to the department a record of the children's enrollment and periodic reports of the children's continued enrollment in and attendance at the early childhood education center. The department also shall require assurance from each participating approved early childhood education center that the center does not discriminate in the admission of children on the basis of race, sex, disability, color or economic status.

(6) The Department of Human Services shall adopt such rules and regulations that may be necessary in the implementation of this section, including an application process and deadline for accepting requests for vouchers from parents, guardians and custodians.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.