Pennsylvania HB 936: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for definitions and for copayments for subsidized child care.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1002
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 936
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, ISAACSON, WAXMAN, FREEMAN, CERRATO,
PIELLI, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN, HOWARD, GIRAL, SANCHEZ,
SCHLOSSBERG, DONAHUE, MAYES, D. WILLIAMS, HOHENSTEIN, BOYD,
GREEN AND FLEMING, MARCH 17, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 17, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
further providing for definitions and for copayments for
subsidized child care.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 402 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
No.21), known as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding
definitions to read:
Section 402. Definitions.--As used in this article, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Child care" means the supervision of children who are
younger than sixteen years of age and who are away from the
home, which is provided in lieu of parental supervision for part
of the twenty-four-hour day. The term does not include the
supervision of children provided in a place of worship during
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religious services or by a social service organization.
"Child-care center" means a premises, certified by the
department, where child care is provided at any one time for
seven or more children unrelated to the operator of the
premises.
"Child-care employe " means a n individual who provides child
care in a family child-care home or child-care center.
* * *
"Family child-care home " means a residence where child care
is provided by the occupier of the residence to no less than
four children and no more than six children at a time where none
of the children are related to the occupier who provides the
child care.
* * *
Section 2. Section 408.3(a) of the act is amended and
subsection (c) is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 408.3. Copayments for Subsidized Child Care.--(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or departmental
regulation, the parent or caretaker of a child enrolled in
subsidized child care shall pay a copayment for the subsidized
child care based on a percentage of the family's annual income,
or the status of the parent or caretaker of a child enrolled in
subsidized child care as a child-care employe or as a direct
support professional employed by a child-care center or family
child-care home, as specified in a copayment schedule
established by the department pursuant to this section.
* * *
(c) In establishing the copayment amounts pursuant to this
section, all of the following shall apply:
* * *
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(3.3) A family in which the parent or caretaker is a child-
care employe or a direct support professional employed by a
child-care center or family child-care home shall be eligible
for subsidized child care, regardless of the family's annual
income according to the following:
(i) The copayment for a family in which the parent or
caretaker is a child-care employe or a direct support
professional employed by a child-care center or family child-
care home amount shall not exceed fifteen percent of the
family's annual income.
(ii) If a child-care employe or direct support professional
employed by a child-care center or family child-care home
qualifies for subsidized child care based on the percentage of
the family's annual income, the copayment amount shall follow
the guidelines for families which are eligible for subsidized
child care based on income but which do not have a parent or
caretaker who is a child-care employe or direct support
professional employed by a child-care center or family child-
care home.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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