This letter transmits OAC rule 5101:2-16-39 Monthly Family Copayment for Publicly Funded Child Care Benefits which contains changes in copayment amounts for families who receive publicly funded child care benefits. This rule will become effective on February 1, 2005 as an emergency rule.

In 2003, the department reduced income eligibility levels and increased copayments in an effort to contain program costs. The department is now able to reduce copayments and recently directed counties to review all publicly funded child care cases in order to make the necessary reductions in monthly child care family copayment for many families.

The "Monthly Child Care Family Copayment Table" in the appendix of the attached rule reflects the decreased copayment amounts. This copayment table shall be used when determining the monthly child care family copayments for all applications, copayment reviews and annual redeterminations.

Other amendments to this rule include a change of the title from Family copayment requirement to Monthly family copayment for publicly funded childcare benefits, a new paragraph (C)(5) and some language has been revised for consistency.

Please note that this rule is currently in Clearance and will be processed through JCARR. If any changes are made to it prior to its finalization by JCARR, the amended rule will be sent in a separate letter.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart depicts what materials should be removed from and what materials should be inserted into the Child Care Manual (CCM).