The purpose of this hearing is to receive additional comments on proposed changes to Title 392 of the Nebraska Administrative Code (NAC) – Child Care Subsidy Program. The proposed changes will streamline the regulations by removing direction to staff and duplicative statutory language from the regulations and condensing six chapters of regulations down to five chapters. The proposed changes will: implement the federally required changes under the 2014 Reauthorization to the Child Care and Development Block Grant; update definitions; extend eligibility for three months of job search; allow for homeless ness to be a need for service; allow for continued eligibility through the remainder of the certification period the family’s income does not exceed 85% state median income; no longer allow for sliding fee adjustments to a higher amount during the certification period; require providers to meet pass background checks and complete trainings prior to receiving subsidy payments; require providers to be age 19 or older; require providers to complete pre-service orientation; allow providers to bill up to five absence days per month. Additional proposed changes include: child care for job search activities cannot be authorized at initial application; adding language back in for unborn children being included in the unit size; updating the definition of an infant to be six weeks to 18 months; allowing payment by enrollment Foster Children/Adoption or Guardianship Subsidy; and minor spelling corrections. Phone call information: 888-820-1398; Participant code: 3213662#
Due to the current public health crisis, the agency will be enforcing the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation on the size of gatherings. The public hearing will be limited to eight (8) in-person attendees. In order to encourage participation in this public hearing, a phone conference line will be set for any member of the public to call in and provide oral comments.
Interested persons may provide verbal comments by participating via phone conference line by calling 888-820-1398; Participant code: 3213662#
Interested persons may provide written comments by mail, fax, or email no later than the day of the hearing to: DHHS Legal Services, PO Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509-5026, (402) 742-2382 or dhhs.regulations@nebraska.gov, respectively. Any written comments will be part of the record and will be considered.