Okla. Human Services calls for public input for proposed child care rules

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahoma Human Service leaders announced Friday the call for public comment for upcoming updates to proposed child care rules.

The Human Services Department says, after extensive input and recommendations from industry members, experts and child care advisors Oklahoma Human Services has posted its updated proposed emergency rules.

According to the agency, the action was taken after proposed emergency rules in late September were withdrawn in efforts to gather more input from stakeholders.

“We are grateful for the valuable input of our partners as we work together to ensure families have access to affordable, quality child care,” said Jeffrey Cartmell, director of Oklahoma Human Services. “As we have said before, continuing the pandemic-era level of spending is not sustainable without significant impacts to other vital services on which Oklahomans depend every day. The agency must balance its fiscal responsibility to taxpayers to maximize both the federal and state dollars entrusted to our agency while also ensuring minimal disruption to our partners and clients. We believe these updated rules represent collaborative solutions for Oklahoma’s child care landscape within our agency’s legal responsibilities in this space.”

The agency solicited and received extensive feedback through:

• Meetings with numerous industry representatives within the Oklahoma Child Care Association, Licensed Child Care Association and the subcommittees for family child care homes and QRIS
• 78 public comments
• Technical assistance from the National Centers for Child Care Quality
• Feedback from the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness executive director and board
• Discussion with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
• Internal Oklahoma Human Services projections and data analysis

The following proposed rules changes were removed based upon the feedback received.

• Child Care Subsidy program – This program provides access to affordable, high-quality early childhood care and afterschool programs for working families with low incomes.

1. Requirement for at least a three-star rating for subsidy contracts
2. Lowering the income threshold at the time of application for the child care subsidy program from 85% to 70% of the State Median Income

• Child Care Licensing program, including QRIS (or Stars) – The Child Care Licensing program ensures child care providers meet health and safety standards. QRIS increases the education and competency levels of child care providers and provides a system for parents to evaluate the quality of child care services.

1. Change of ownership implications
2. Mandatory and initial requirements for star ratings
3. 12-month waiting period before moving to next star level
4. Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) pathway for five-star rating.
5. Accreditation and ERS pathway for four-star rating.
6. Immediate implementation of four-star and five-star additional requirements

Agency leaders say, the remaining emergency rules are set to focus on child care subsidy eligibility and licensing regulations. A summary of the proposed rules are listed below. To read the complete context click here.

• Child Care Subsidy program

1. Strengthened work and education requirements for parents and guardians
2. Case changes required due to federal child care regulations

• Child Care Licensing program

1. Placing QRIS applications online
2. Reducing non-compliance history reviews from 24 months to 12 months
3. On-site inspections before assigning Star ratings
4. Clarifying process for Stars reductions
5. Reducing the number of annual Quality Review visits
6. Eliminating the alternative settlement option for Stars reduction
7. Accreditation requirement for five-star rating
8. Reduction of grievance review timeframes and levels of reviews
9. Additional opportunities for participation in the administrative review panel

To view the proposed emergency rules posted online with instructions to send comments and feedback click here.

Details of proposed rules and additional feedback will be discussed at a public hearing tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Public comments will be open through the next day, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

All comments and feedback will be considered to incorporate into the final rules before advancing it to the Governor’s office, says the agency.

If the rules are approved, they will go into effect upon signature.