RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6M-4.200: School Readiness Eligibility Provisions
6M-4.208: Documenting Eligibility for the School Readiness Program
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 46 No. 53, March 17, 2020 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
The changes to the proposed rule are being made in response to comments from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee and the public hearings held on April 7, 2020. The changes are as follows:
6M-4.200 School Readiness Eligibility Provisions
(1) Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to all rules under chapter 6M-4, F.A.C.
(a) through (j) No change.
(k) “Unearned Income” means income other than earned income that includes documented alimony and child support received, social security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (excluding SSI payments when a child is the recipient), worker’s compensation benefits, reemployment assistance or reemployment compensation benefits, veteran benefits, retirement benefits, temporary cash assistance under chapter 414, F.S., and cash gifts received regularly. Regularly means a definite pattern and at uniform intervals of time.
(2) Authorization period and purpose for care. A family’s eligibility for school readiness services depends on an established purpose for care. A coalition must authorize services in accordance with the family’s purpose for care. During the authorization period the child shall be considered eligible and shall receive services at least at the same level, regardless of a change in family income remaining at or below 85% SMI or a temporary change in the ongoing status of the child’s parent as working or attending a job training or educational program.
(a) No change.
(b) Twelve-month authorization period. The coalition shall authorize at-risk, Economically Disadvantaged and Special Needs children for 12-months of child care funding.
1. At-risk. Eligibility is based on a documented child care authorization from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) or its contracted provider, DCF-designated Lead Homeless Coalition Continuum of Care agency or Certified Domestic Violence Center. “At Risk Child” is defined in section 1002.81(1), F.S.
a. No change.
b. A child may continue to maintain eligibility under the at-risk or protective services categories as long as there is a current and valid child care authorization. Each time a child care authorization is renewed during the 12-month authorization of child care funding, child care services will continue in increments defined by the referring agency. If an additional referral is granted to the parent that extends the purpose for care beyond the initial 12-month authorization eligibility period, the coalition shall authorize the parent for an additional 12-month authorization eligibility period.
2. through 3. No change.
(c) Authorization period less than twelve months. The following authorization periods apply for children being served in other categories. Parents must also maintain compliance with statutory requirements specific to the program, as monitored by the referring agency.
1. No change.
2. Welfare Transition Program, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Transitional Child Care/Non-Temporary Cash Assistance. a. Eligibility is based on a documented child care authorization issued by DCF or the local workforce agency. b. All children eligible under the Temporary Cash Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance Respite, and Temporary Cash Assistance Applicant programs will be authorized for child care funding for the period indicated by the referring agency’s child care authorization. The parent no longer maintains purpose for care under this eligibility category upon child care authorization expiration or upon notification of termination from the referring agency to the coalition, whichever comes first.
c. Parents must also maintain compliance with statutory requirements specific to the program, as monitored by the referring agency.
(3) Re-establishment period for purpose of care. When a parent experiences a loss in purpose for care, the coalition must provide the parent a three (3) month period to re-establish purpose for care, at which time the parent must meet purpose for care to remain eligible for the remainder of the twelve-month authorization period. If the child served is subject to twelve-month eligibility, then the child will remain eligible for the remainder of the twelve-month authorization period. The child shall continue to receive services at the same level and provider shall continue being reimbursed during the three (3) month re-establishment period.
(a) At-risk, relative caregiver and welfare transition program. The parent no longer maintains the current purpose for care upon the child care authorization’s expiration or upon notification of termination from the referring agency to the coalition, whichever comes first. The coalition or contracted designee shall inform the parent and DCF or local workforce referral agency that when the child care authorization expires or is terminated the parent will have three (3) months to provide documentation to establish a purpose for care under the same eligibility category or another eligibility category to continue to receive services.
(b) through (d) No change.
(4) Redetermination. All redetermining eligible At-risk, Economically Disadvantaged and Special Needs children will be authorized for 12-months of child care.
(a) No change.
(b) All redetermining clients are subject to the graduated phase-out requirements defined by subsection 6M-4.400(3), 003(3), F.A.C. if the family unit income increases to above 150% FPL and remains at or below under 85% SMI.
(c) Parents and providers must be notified if, as a result of any redetermination, a child is determined ineligible for the program financial assistance within two weeks.
(5) Notification to parents. The coalition or contracted designee shall notify the parents of their responsibility and the method to notify the coalition or contracted designee within 14 calendar days two weeks of any change of circumstances related to:
(a) through (e) No change.
(6) No change.
(7) Transfer of School Readiness Services. Eligible families shall continue to receive school readiness services during the 12-month authorization eligibility period due to a change in residence within the state to a different coalition service area.
(a) The school readiness funding shall transfer to the coalition service area that the family relocates to. Funding shall reflect the remaining balance of 12-month authorization eligibility. Transferring families are subject to the same document requirements found under subsection 6M-4.208(4), F.A.C. The coalition shall make every effort to coordinate with the transferring coalition to obtain documents that would be valid regardless of the location of the coalition, such as birth certificates, shot records or proof of parental relationship. Any documentation received because of new employment in the receiving coalition shall not be used in increase a family’s copay.
(b) The parent copayment may not be increased due to a transfer of services outside of the coalition service area, unless the family is in graduated phase-out at the time of the coalition transfer in accordance with subsection 6M-4.400(3), FAC.
(c) No change.
(d) If the family transfers during a reestablishment period for purpose of care, a three (3) month period to reestablish a purpose of care the family must reestablish a purpose of care by the end of that same the three (3) month period for services to be continued in the new coalition service area.
(8) Termination of School Readiness Services. Services shall be discontinued for a family prior to the end of the 12-month authorization eligibility period under limited circumstances. The family and provider will be notified of disenrollment at a minimum of two weeks prior to termination of services or at the end of the current authorization eligibility period, whichever comes first. The notification to the parent shall include the reason for termination. Qualifying events for termination include:
(a) through (b) No change.
(c) A change in residency outside of the State state of Florida.
(d) Through (e) No change.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.213(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.81(1), (8), (16), 1002.82(2)(f), (z), 1002.87(1), (5), (6) FS. History–New 4-21-03, Formerly 60BB-4.200, Amended 7-31-14, 12-18-16, 8-20-18; _____.
6M-4.208 Documenting Eligibility for the School Readiness Program.
(1) through (3) No change.
(4) Documentation required for school readiness services eligibility. During the initial determination and redetermination an applicant must submit documentation, as applicable, to verify compliance with eligibility requirements. An office visit shall not be required for the submission of eligibility documentation or establishment of eligibility. Prior to the eligibility determination and enrollment, new applicants shall submit required documentation within 30 calendar days from the date on the funding notification. Redetermining applicants shall submit required documentation through the statewide information system prior to the redetermination date. The coalition shall determine eligibility within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the documentation.
(a) Age. Verification of age must be established for each child eligible for the school readiness program in accordance with section 1002.87(1), F.S. The coalition shall keep a record of at least one of the following supporting documents that shows the child’s name and date of birth:
1. through 7. No change.
8. For children identified in sections 1002.81(1)(a)-(d), F.S., the child’s age, as indicated on a child care authorization submitted by the referring agency, is sufficient to establish age as verified by the parent.
9. No change.
(b) Citizenship. Each child receiving services must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien. Verification of U.S. citizenship or a qualified noncitizen status must be obtained for each child prior to authorizing school readiness services. The coalition shall keep a record of at least one of the following supporting documents establishing citizenship for each child:
1. through 5. No change.
6. Documentation of the child’s Medicaid eligible status with the exception of Medicaid benefits received through the emergency medical assistance program as a non-citizen or non-qualified alien.
7. No change.
8. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (b)1.-7., above, are available, for a homeless child as defined in section 1003.01, F.S., a coalition can accept a notarized statement provided by the child’s parent or homeless shelter to establish a child’s citizenship.
(c) Residency. Each applicant must submit verification of current residency to qualify for the program in the county in which the applicant applied. The coalition shall keep a record of at least one of the following supporting documents that shows the name and current residential address of a parent with whom the child resides:
1. through 3. No change.
4. Government-issued document (e.g. Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, or a current property tax assessment, dated within 12 months of eligibility determination showing a homestead exemption, dated within 12 months of eligibility determination a Florida driver’s license of Florida identification card).
5. through 7. No change.
8. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (c)1.-7., above, are available, a coalition may accept a notarized statement provided by the child’s parent and a letter from a landlord or property owner which confirms that the child resides at the address shown in the notarized statement. Documentation cannot be accepted by the coalition more than one time to determine eligibility.
9. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (c)1.-7., above, are available, for a homeless child as defined in sSection 1003.01, F.S., a coalition shall document residency based on other supporting documents showing that the child is homeless and resides in Florida (e.g., letter from a shelter or a notarized statement provided by the child’s parent).
(d) No change.
(e) Family Size. Each applicant must identify each child and adult included in the school readiness family size, in accordance with section 1002.81(9), F.S.
1. through 3. No change.
4. The family size for a family that includes a child(ren) in receipt of TANF child only benefits shall only include the child(ren) if the child(ren) resides with a guardian. If the child(ren) resides with a parent, the parent must be included in the family size.
5. A teen parent will be considered a separate household, unless the teen and their child(ren) are included in their parent’s School Readiness family size. Eligibility and income will be determined consistent with the procedures for other households.
6. No change.
(f) Purpose for Care. Each applicant must meet the purpose for care requirements of the program in accordance with sections 1002.81(1), (7), (16) and 1002.87(1), F.S. The coalition shall keep a record of at least one of the following supporting documents establishing purpose for care for the authorization period:
1. Through 4. No change.
5. Documentation for exemptions to work requirements due to disability or age:
a. No change.
b. Age – In order to be exempt from work requirements due to age, a parent must submit proof of receipt of retirement income benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration Administator or documentation from a physician licensed under chapter 458 or 459, F.S.
6. No change.
(g) No change.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.213(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.81(1), (8), (16), 1002.82(2)(f), 1002.84(7), 1002.87(1), (5), (6) FS. History–New 4-21-03, Formerly 60BB-4.208, Amended 12-18-16, 8-20-18, _________.
