House Bill 813

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IN THE OPERATION OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND/TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Human Services is Mississippi’s lead agency in the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program. CCDF is comprised of the following funding streams: discretionary, mandatory, federal matching, and state matching. In addition, as allowed by federal regulation, Mississippi currently transfers twenty percent (20%) of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) grant into CCDF. The CCDF/TANF program helps eligible working parents pay for early care and education services for their children.

(2) In the operation of the CCDF/TANF program, the Department of Human Services shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) The department shall maintain records and post quarterly on a publicly accessible web site for each county the information required for all federal and state reports related to CCDF (42 USCS, Chapter 105, Subchapter II-B).

(b) The department shall establish performance level standards including the following requirements in CCDF/TANF certificate subcontracts: measurable outcome-based contract measures, clear statements of expectations, evaluation criteria, documentation, and the explicit descriptions of reporting requirements. The State Department of Audit shall annually audit the expenditures by the department and subcontractors (currently known as "Designated Agents"). In addition, the State Department of Audit shall periodically, but not less than once every three (3) years, conduct performance audits for the purposes of assessing program impact. The State Department of Audit shall provide copies of each of the audits to the Chairmen of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.

(c) The department shall provide to the custodial parents all information and a plain-language explanation of all program criteria to qualify for a CCDF/TANF certificate to obtain early care and education for a child from birth to twelve (12) years of age.

(d) The department shall require child care providers participating in the CCDF/TANF certificate program to provide developmentally appropriate early childhood educational activities, including reading and writing where age appropriate.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.