Child Care Affordability Program Rules, 10-148 C.M.R. Ch. 6

Date posted:

Attachment(s):

This routine/technical rulemaking is necessary to comply with Federal Rule updates according to 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq., 45  C.F.R. Pt. 98. The Department adopted the changes outlined below on an emergency basis on 5/19/25, and this proposed rulemaking will adopt these changes before the emergency rule expires on 8/17/25 at 11:59pm EST (U.S. and Canada). This rulemaking proposes to promulgate on a non-emergency basis changes to the payment structure of the Child Care Affordability Program, including:

  • Changing the payment structure for paying child care providers from paying for services after they are complete to paying for services prospectively.
  • Changing the payment structure for paying child care providers from paying by enrollment of a child in child care versus paying by attendance of that child in child care.
  • Changing cap of parent co-payments within the program so that eligible families who make below 85% of State Median Income pay 7% or less of their eligibility income to child care. Families who make between 85% to 125% of State Median Income pay 10% or less of their income to child care.

In addition, changes are being made that are not federally required, but are strongly encouraged and/or are being made to support access to the program including:

  • Changing the rates at which the Child Care Affordability Program will pay providers, which will now be set at the State’s market rate, formerly set as the market rate or the private pay rate, whichever was less expensive.
  • Simplifying hours of care to part or full time care only, formerly full time, part time, half time and quarter time care.
  • Expanding the definition of At-Risk Children to support expanded eligibility under the Federal Rules, which allows the State to define who falls under the Child Protective Services definition.

Office: Child and Family Services

Public hearing: -

Meeting location:

A public hearing will be held on Monday, June 16th, 2025 at 1pm Eastern Standard Time (U.S. and Canada) via Zoom.

Meeting link: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/82633519819?pwd=jbbNXwiF03xMxUcSmAPMDJM5nzYO78.1

Comment deadline:

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