_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING the best beginnings CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; AND providing demographic ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Best beginnings child care assistance program -- general requirements. (1) The department shall administer the best beginnings child care assistance program that offers financial assistance to eligible parents to offset the cost of child care.

(2)        Every 3 years, in each child care region and in the top nine counties receiving child care assistance funds, the department shall set the maximum income level for program eligibility by conducting an assessment utilizing an objective assessment tool. The assessment tool must consider regional variations in cost of living and cost of child care.

(3)        The department shall:

(a)        establish a maximum income level for program eligibility that is specific to each child care region and county referenced in subsection (2); and

(b)        administer the program in compliance with Title 42, chapter 105, Subchapter II-B, of the United States Code.

(4)        If there is a waitlist for the best beginnings child care assistance program, the department may utilize additional sources of funding to offer assistance to more applicants, including funds from:

(a)        the state special account established in 53-6-1101;

(b)        the child care and development fund, up to the ceiling permitted by the federal government;

(c)        the temporary assistance to needy families program, up to the ceiling permitted by the federal government; and

(d)        the social services block grant, up to the ceiling permitted by the federal government.

(5)        If a waitlist remains after the department uses additional funding pursuant to subsection (4), the department shall prioritize those in the lowest income brackets.

(6)        It is the intent of the legislature that this program be administered within existing levels of funding.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 53, chapter 4, and the provisions of Title 53, chapter 4, apply to [section 1].