40-6.2-1.1. Rates established.

(a) Through June 30, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the

maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth

and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based

on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the

average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

24 Licensed Childcare Centers

75th Percentile of Weekly Market Rate

25 Infant

$182.00

26 Preschool

$150.00

27 School-Age

$135.00

28 Licensed Family Childcare Providers

75th Percentile of Weekly Market Rate

29 Infant

$150.00

30 Preschool

$150.00

31 School-Age

$135.00

Effective July 1, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum

reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and

families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based on the

above schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of

the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates. These rates shall be increased by

ten dollars ($10.00) per week for infant/toddler care provided by licensed family childcare

providers and license-exempt providers and then the rates for all providers for all age groups shall

be increased by three percent (3%). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, licensed childcare

centers shall be reimbursed a maximum weekly rate of one hundred ninety-three dollars and sixty-

four cents ($193.64) for infant/toddler care and one hundred sixty-one dollars and seventy-one

cents ($161.71) for preschool-age children.

(b) Effective July l, 2018, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the

maximum infant/toddler and preschool-age reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of

human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1.

(1) For infant/toddler child care, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half percent

(2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above

the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY

2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed twenty percent (20%) above the FY 2018 weekly

amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed thirty-three percent (33%) above the FY 2018 weekly

amount.

(2) For preschool reimbursement rates, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half

percent (2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%)

above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed ten percent (10%) above the FY

2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018

weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-one percent (21%) above the FY 2018

weekly amount.

26 (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4.]

(d) By June 30, 2004, and biennially through June 30, 2014, the department of labor and

training shall conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the then-current

weekly market rates for child care in Rhode Island and shall forward the weekly market rate survey

to the department of human services. The next survey shall be conducted by June 30, 2016, and

triennially thereafter. The departments of human services and labor and training will jointly

determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, rate categories and sub-categories.

(e) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the department

of human services is authorized to establish, by regulation, alternative or incentive rates of

reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care, and alternative

methodologies of childcare delivery, including nontraditional delivery systems and collaborations.

(f) Effective January 1, 2007, all childcare providers have the option to be paid every two

(2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of

reimbursement payments.

(g) Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum infant/toddler reimbursement rates to be paid by

the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed family childcare

providers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has

achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Tier one shall be

reimbursed two percent (2%) above the prevailing base rate for step 1 and step 2 providers, three

percent (3%) above prevailing base rate for step 3 providers, and four percent (4%) above the

prevailing base rate for step 4 providers; tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the

prevailing base rate; tier three shall be reimbursed eleven percent (11%) above the prevailing base

rate; tier four shall be reimbursed fourteen percent (14%) above the prevailing base rate; and tier

five shall be reimbursed twenty-three percent (23%) above the prevailing base rate.

(h) Through December 31, 2021, the maximum reimbursement rates paid by the

departments of human services, and children, youth and families to licensed childcare centers shall

be consistent with the enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

19

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 4

Tier 5

20

Infant/Toddler

$257.54

$257.54

$257.54

$257.54

$273.00

21

Preschool Age

$195.67

$195.67

$195.67

$195.67

$260.00

22

School Age

$200.00

$200.00

$200.00

$200.00

$245.00

The maximum reimbursement rates paid by the departments of human services, and

children, youth and families to licensed family childcare providers shall be consistent with the

enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

26

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 4

Tier 5

27

Infant/Toddler

$224.43

$224.43

$224.43

$224.43

$224.43

28

Preschool Age

$171.45

$171.45

$171.45

$171.45

$171.45

29

School Age

$162.30

$162.30

$162.30

$162.30

$162.30

(i) Effective January 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the

departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers

shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved

within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

1 Licensed Childcare Centers

2

Tier One

Tier Two

Tier Three

Tier Four

Tier Five

3

Infant/Toddler

$236.36

$244.88

$257.15

$268.74

$284.39

4

Preschool

$207.51

$212.27

$218.45

$223.50

$231.39

5

School-Age

$180.38

$182.77

$185.17

$187.57

$189.97

The maximum reimbursement rates for licensed family childcare providers paid by the

departments of human services, and children, youth and families is determined through collective

bargaining. The maximum reimbursement rates for infant/toddler and preschool age children paid

to licensed family childcare providers by both departments is implemented in a tiered manner that

reflects the quality rating the provider has achieved in accordance with § 42-12-23.1.

(j) Effective July 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments

of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

Licensed Childcare Centers

17

Tier One

Tier Two

Tier Three

Tier Four

Tier Five

18

Infant/Toddler

$265

$270

$282

$289

$300

19

Preschool

$225

$235

$243

$250

$260

20

School-Age

$200

$205

$220

$238

$250

(m) Effective July 1, 2026, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the

departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall

be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state's quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

12

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Tier 4

Tier 5

13

Infant

$351

$358

$373

$382

$397

14

Toddlers

$278

$284

$296

$303

$315

15

Preschoolers

$236

$247

$255

$263

$273

16

School Age

$210

$215

$231

$250

$263

17

SECTION

8. Section

40.1-1-13

of the General

Laws in

Chapter 40.1-1 entitled

“Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals” is hereby

amended to read as follows: