SB0142 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 03493 DRJ 35060 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0142

Introduced 2/1/2005, by Sen. Carol Ronen

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.640 new

Creates the DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Act and amends the State Finance Act. Establishes a health benefits program for providers of child care subsidized by the Department of Human Services under the Illinois Public Aid Code and those providers' employees. In the case of a provider providing subsidized child care for 3 or more children, provides for a $10 monthly fee and copayments for office visits and prescriptions. In the case of a provider providing such services to fewer than 3 children, provides for a fee for participation in the program at the market rate (as determined by the Department of Human Services) or a specified fraction of the market rate. Creates the DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Fund, consisting of payments by providers, appropriations to the Department of Human Services, and federal grant moneys or other donations, to be used by the Department for administering the program. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Child care provider" means a day care center, day care home, or group day care home. The term also means an individual who operates a day care home or group day care home.

"Day care center", "day care home", and "group day care home" are defined as in the Child Care Act of 1969. The terms include both facilities licensed under that Act and facilities exempt from licensure under that Act.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Program" means the program of health benefits for child care providers and employees established under this Act.

"Subsidized full-day child care services" means child care services that are provided to a child for 5 or more hours per day and are subsidized by the Department of Human Services under Section 9A-11 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

Section 10. Health benefits program.

(a) A program of health benefits for child care providers and their employees is established. A child care provider, and any employee of such a child care provider who provides child care services for 30 or more hours per week, is eligible to participate in the program as provided in this Section if the provider or employee meets the following requirements:

(1) The provider provides subsidized full-day child care services to 3 or more children. For every 3 children to whom a provider provides subsidized full-day child care services, one employee of that provider is eligible to participate in the program.

(2) The provider or employee has provided those services for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding participation in the program.

A child care provider that is a day care center that participates in the program must provide coverage under the program for each employee who provides child care services for 30 or more hours per week. A child care provider other than a day care center may enroll in the program without providing coverage for any employees, but if such a provider elects to provide coverage for any employees, the provider must provide coverage for each employee who provides child care services for 30 or more hours per week.

(b) The program shall provide coverage of medical services to the same extent as provided under the program of medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code.

(c) A child care provider or employee eligible under this Section and participating in the program shall pay a fee of $10 for each month during which the provider or employee participates in the program. In addition, the provider or employee shall pay the following fees as co-payments:

(1) $10 for each visit to a provider of physician services, dental services, optical services and supplies, chiropractic services, podiatry services, or encounter rate clinic services.

(2) $10 for each prescription filled by a provider of pharmacy services.

Section 15. Subsidized child care for fewer than 3 children.

(a) A child care provider that provides subsidized full-day child care services to fewer than 3 children, and any employee of such a child care provider, is eligible to participate in the program as provided in this Section.

(b) The Department shall determine the market rate for health benefits provided under the program, based on actuarial estimates. The Department shall revise the market rate annually.

(c) A child care provider who does not provide subsidized full-day child care services to any children, or an employee of such a child care provider, is eligible to participate in the program upon the payment of a fee equal to the market rate determined by the Department under this Section.

(d) A child care provider who provides subsidized full-day child care services to one child, or an employee of such a child care provider, is eligible to participate in the program upon the payment of a fee equal to two-thirds of the market rate determined by the Department under this Section.

(e) A child care provider who provides subsidized full-day child care services to 2 children, or an employee of such a child care provider, is eligible to participate in the program upon the payment of a fee equal to one-third of the market rate determined by the Department under this Section.

Section 20. DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Fund.

(a) The DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The fund shall consist of the following:

(1) Moneys paid to the Department by child care providers under Section 15.

(2) Moneys appropriated to the Department for the purpose of administering the program.

(3) Federal grant moneys, or moneys from any other public or private source, allocated to the Department for the purpose of administering the program.

All moneys described in items (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection shall be deposited into the fund.

(b) The Department shall use the moneys in the fund for the purpose of administering the program, including the payment of moneys to another entity pursuant to a contract entered into between the Department and the entity under Section 25.

Section 25. Program administration. The Department may administer the program or may contract with another entity for the administration of the program.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.640 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.640 new)

Sec. 5.640. The DHS Child Care Provider Health Benefits Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.