DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 294

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 31 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE FOR FULL-TIME POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 502, Title 31 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:

§ 502. Definitions.

As used in For purposes of this chapter:

(9) “Purchase of Care” or “POC” means child care assistance provided under this chapter.

Section 2. Amend § 503, Title 31 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:

§ 503. Eligibility for assistance; amount; method of payment.

(e)  Child care assistance. — Persons seeking employment who are in need of child care services in order to obtain employment, to retain employment, or to obtain training leading to employment are

(1)a. An individual is eligible to apply for child care assistance under the Child Care Subsidy Program. Such persons Purchase of Care if the individual needs child care services in order to do any of the following:

1. Obtain employment.

2. Retain employment.

3. Obtain training leading to employment, including education and training under § 523 of this title.

4. Attend post-secondary education classes for an associate or baccalaureate degree as a full-time student.

b. An individual seeking employment are is eligible to apply for child care assistance under paragraph (e)(1)a. 1. of this section for a period not to exceed 90 consecutive days over the course of 1 year.

(2)a. Eligibility for and the amount of assistance granted to persons under Delaware’s Child Care Subsidy Program under POC shall be determined in accordance with the rules and regulations made established by the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services (DHSS) and Chapter 3 of this title.

b. If an individual is a full-time student attending post-secondary education classes under paragraph (e)(1)a.4. of this section, all of the following are not income for purposes of this subsection (e):

1. A student grant.

2. A scholarship, including under financial assistance under Chapter 34 of Title 14.

3. A student loan that can be used only for post-secondary education expenses.

SYNOPSIS

This Act makes full-time students attending post-secondary education for an associate or baccalaureate degree eligible for child care assistance.

This Act also adds the name of this State's child care assistance program, "Purchase of Care" or "POC" to Chapter 5 of Title 31 and makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

This Act is effective immediately because under § 10113 of Title 29, amendments that make existing regulations consistent with changes in basic law are exempt from the procedural requirements under the Administrative Procedures Act.

Author: Senator Cruce