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10-148 Chapter 6 page 26

application. B. The Department shall notify a Child Care Provider within two (2) business days of a Child’s eligibility change. C. The Department will make a Child Care Affordability Program Payment to an eligible Child’s Child Care Provider in the amount of the Market Rate set forth by the Department, less the Parent Fee and adjusted as otherwise provided in this Rule. D. The Department will establish Market Rates for Child Care Providers based on age of child, geographic location, hours in care, and provider type. The Department is the only entity authorized to establish the Child Care Affordability Program Market Rates. E. If a Parent with whom an eligible Child resides has a court order indicating that another person shares responsibility for Child Care, the Department will decrease the amount of the Child Care Affordability Program Payment in accordance with such court order. F. Child Care Services funded, in whole or in part, by the Child Care Affordability Program may be provided only by a Child Care Provider that has entered into and is in compliance with a Provider Agreement with the Department that describes the responsibilities of both parties, using the forms provided by the Department. SECTION 5: PARENT FEE & COSTS

A. Associated Parent Fees & Costs 1. All Parents will be assessed, and a Parent Fee will be determined based on the number of individuals in the Family, the Eligibility Income of the family, and Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) level of the Provider. The Parent Fee does not vary with the number of Children receiving Child Care Services, the amount of Child Care Services they need, or the type of Child Care Services the Parent chooses to use. 2. The Department will notify Parents of the amount of the Parent Fee and associated payment terms. All Parent Fees will be paid directly to the Child Care Provider by the Parent or another party acting on behalf of the Parent, for the full period their Child(ren) is/are enrolled and the Department is making Child Care Affordability Program Payments on their behalf. 3. Parents choosing a Provider at the second highest QRIS level will receive a ten percent (10%) reduction in their Parent Fee determination. Parents choosing a Provider at the highest QRIS level will receive a twenty percent (20%) reduction in their Parent Fee determination. 4. If the Parent Fee exceeds the state reimbursement rate, the Parent is not eligible to receive Child Care Affordability Program payments.