SB 793

This bill increases the funding available for child care subsidies under

Wisconsin Shares across the state and increases the bonus offered for child care

subsidies for children enrolled in facilities that receive a four-star or five-star rating

under the Department of Children and Families' child care quality rating program.

Under current law, DCF is directed to allocate in each fiscal year specific

amounts of money, including federal moneys received under the Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, for various public

assistance programs, including for child care subsidies under the Wisconsin Shares

program. This bill directs an additional $8,000,000 of TANF funding in fiscal year

2018-19 to be used to increase child care subsidies under the Wisconsin Shares

program across the state. Under the bill, the increase begins on January 1, 2019.

Under current law, DCF can increase the amount of a Wisconsin Shares child

care reimbursement rate for five-star rated facilities under DCF's child care quality

rating program by up to 25 percent, and for four-star rated facilities by up to 10

percent. This bill increases these bonuses so that DCF can increase the

reimbursement rate for five-star rated facilities by up to 30 percent and four-star

rated facilities by up to 15 percent beginning on January 1, 2019.