This letter transmits the revisions of rules for child care and the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) as a result of the passage of Am. Sub. H. B. 1 of the 128th General Assembly. These changes are effective on July 23, 2009.

ELI has not been funded for the next biennium. ELI services for currently enrolled children will continue until August 22, 2009. Caretakers of currently enrolled ELI children may be eligible for child care benefits if they have incomes up to 200% FPL and have a qualifying work, training or education activity. These caretakers must apply for child care benefits by August 22 in order for the 200% FPL income standard to be applied. After this date, the income standard will be 150% FPL.

County Departments of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) shall not accept new ELI applications on or after July 23, 2009. A notice form, JFS 01171 "Notice of a Change in Your Early Learning Initiative (ELI) Services," is included with this letter. The CDJFS shall send this notice to ELI-eligible families to advise them of the termination of ELI.

Child care changes include removal of the six-month copayment review requirement, reduction in the family income eligibility standard to 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and an adjustment of the maximum provider reimbursement rates.

CDJFS shall issue new contracts or amend existing contracts to providers that implement the adjusted rates no later than August 23, 2009. The JFS 01224 "Contract for Purchase of Publicly Funded Child Care Services" has been revised and shall be used for all new contracts issued on or after July 23, 2009. Effective August 23, 2009, the CDJFS shall reimburse child care providers according to rule 5101:2-16-41 and the maximum reimbursement amounts shown in the appendix to rule 5101:2-16-41.

The following is a summary of the rule amendments and form revisions:

Rule 5101:2-16-30 entitled "Eligibility requirements for receipt of publicly funded child care benefits" has been amended to reduce the maximum monthly income from 200% of the FPL to 150% FPL.

Rule 5101:2-16-39 entitled "Copayment for publicly funded child care" has been amended to remove the requirement for a six-month redetermination of copayment, update the copayment chart and add a copayment calendar.

Rule 5101:2-16-41 "Reimbursement rates for providers of publicly funded child care" has been amended to adjust the maximum provider reimbursement rates in the appendix to the rule.

Rule 5101:2-23-01 "Definitions for the early learning initiative (ELI)" has been amended to indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

Rule 5101:2-23-03 "County departments of job and family services administrative responsibilities for the early learning initiative (ELI)" has been amended to indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

Rule 5101:2-23-05 "Eligibility requirements for early learning initiative (ELI) services" has been amended to indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

Rule 5101:2-23-07 "Income eligibility requirements for early learning initiative (ELI) services" has been amended to indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

Rule 5101:2-23-09 "Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) responsibilities for reimbursement to early learning initiative (ELI) contracted agencies" has been amended indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

Rule 5101:2-23-11 "Early learning initiative (ELI) overpayments" has been amended to indicate that the ELI will no longer exist as of August 23, 2009 and that the rule will be in effect until August 22, 2009.

JFS 01224 "Contract for Purchase of Publicly Funded Child Care Services" has been revised to remove the definitions of full-time, part-time and hourly hours and to add notice of the statutory requirement for providers to have liability insurance.

JFS 01171 "Notice of a Change in Your Early Learning Initiative (ELI) Services" is a new form that CDJFS shall use to provide notice to families that ELI is being terminated.

The electronic version of the Child Care Manual and the Early Learning Manual are located at: http://emanuals.jfs.ohio.gov. These manuals contain all rules, forms, transmittal letters and procedure letters that the department has issued to county departments of Job and Family Services (CDJFS) and ELI providers.

You may contact the Office of Families and Children Help Desk at 1-866-886-3537, option 4 if you have questions.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following chart identifies the material that needs to be removed from and inserted into the Child Care Manual (CCM) and the Early Learning Manual (ELM).