SB 201

This bill allows an individual who receives a child care subsidy through the

Wisconsin Shares program to continue to be eligible to receive a partial subsidy if

that individual's family gross income increases to above 200 percent of the poverty

line for a family the size of the individual's family.

Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law,

which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who

are at least 18 years old. Under Wisconsin Shares, an individual who is the parent

of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs

child care services to participate in various educational or work activities, and who

satisfies other eligibility criteria, may receive a child care subsidy for child care

services. Under current law, one of the eligibility criteria for receiving a child care

subsidy under Wisconsin Shares is having a family gross income at or below 185

percent of the poverty line. If an individual is already receiving a child care subsidy

under Wisconsin Shares and his or her family's gross income increases above 185

percent of the poverty line, under current law the individual remains eligible for the

child care subsidy until his or her family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the

poverty line. Under this bill, the individual remains eligible to receive a child care

subsidy under Wisconsin Shares if his or her family's gross income exceeds 200

percent of the poverty line, but the individual's copayment increases by $1 for every

$3 by which the family's gross income exceeds 200 percent of the poverty line.