AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COPAYMENTS (Codifies child care copayments in law, expand zero copays to families under 125% FPL, lower costs for working families, and cap most copayments at 6% while preserving a 7% statutory maximum.)

H7462

2026 -- H 7462
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LC004488
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
COPAYMENTS

Introduced By:
Representatives Diaz, Kazarian, Shallcross Smith, Donovan, Cruz,
Giraldo, Slater, Tanzi, and Casimiro

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Findings of fact.
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The general assembly hereby finds as follows:
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(1) Access to affordable, high-quality child care is essential to the economic stability of
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Rhode Island’s working families and the health and development of young children.
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(2) The federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (“CCDBG”) requires states
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to establish sliding fee scales for family copayments that account for family income and size and
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that ensure copayments are affordable and not a barrier to accessing care.
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(3) Federal regulations finalized in 2024 prohibit family copayments in excess of seven
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percent (7%) of family income and encourage states to eliminate or significantly reduce
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copayments for families with low incomes, particularly those under one hundred fifty percent
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(150%) of the federal poverty level.
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(4) Rhode Island law currently requires a sliding fee scale for child care assistance and,
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pursuant to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) final rule, caps family copayments are
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capped at seven percent (7%) of family income.
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(5) Data from December 2024 demonstrate that a majority of families receiving assistance
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under the Child Care Assistance Program are not charged a copayment, and that modest statutory
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changes could further reduce financial barriers while maintaining program sustainability.
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(6) It is therefore the intent of the General Assembly to codify an affordable sliding fee

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scale in statute, expand eligibility for zero copayments, and reduce copayment amounts for working
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families, consistent with federal law and best practices.
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SECTION 2. Title 40 of the General Laws entitled "HUMAN SERVICES" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 6.7
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CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COPAYMENTS
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40-6.7-1. Child care assistance program -- Family copayments.

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(a) The department of human services ("DHS"), as the lead agency for the child care
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assistance program ("CCAP"), shall establish and administer family copayments pursuant to a
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sliding fee scale set forth in this section.
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(b) Family copayments under the CCAP shall:
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(1) Be based on family income and family size;
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(2) Not be based on the cost of care or the amount of subsidy payment;
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(3) Be affordable and not constitute a barrier to participation; and
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(4) Not exceed seven percent (7%) of a family's annual income, regardless of the number
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of children in care.
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(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, family copayments shall
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be assessed according to the following sliding fee scale, expressed as a percentage of annual family
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income:
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Table 1: Child Care Assistance Program Family Copayment Schedule
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Income Level as % of

Copayment as %
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Federal Poverty Level (“FPL”)

of Family Income
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At or below 125% FPL

0%
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Above 125% FPL and at or below 150% FPL

2%
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Above 150% FPL and at or below 200% FPL

4%
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Above 200% FPL and at or below 300% FPL

6%
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(d) DHS may waive family copayments, in whole or in part, for families who meet one or
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more of the following criteria, consistent with federal law and regulations:
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(1) Families with children in foster care or kinship care, or otherwise receiving or in need
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of protective services;
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(2) Families experiencing homelessness;
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(3) Families with children who have a disability, as defined by federal regulation;
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(4) Families enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start programs; or
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(5) Any other category authorized under federal Child Care and Development Fund rules.

LC004488 - Page 2 of 4
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(e) DHS is authorized to establish by regulation additional categories of copayments for
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families with incomes above three hundred percent (300%) of the federal poverty level; provided
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that, no copayment exceeds the cap set forth in subsection (b)(4) of this section.
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(f) DHS shall periodically review the sliding fee scale to ensure compliance with federal
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requirements and the affordability of child care for Rhode Island families, and shall report any
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recommended statutory changes to the general assembly.
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40-6.7-2. Severability.

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If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, such invalidity shall not
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affect the other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the
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invalid provision or application.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
COPAYMENTS
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This act would codify child care copayments in law, expand zero copays to families under
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125% FPL, lower costs for working families, and cap most copayments at 6% while preserving a
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7% statutory maximum.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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