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.

Rhode Island Child Care Assistance Copayment Bill

This bill makes changes to how much Rhode Island families pay out-of-pocket for child care when they receive government assistance through the state's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Right now, copayment rules are set through administrative regulations, but this bill would write those rules directly into state law, making them harder to change without going through the full legislature. It also expands who qualifies for free child care by eliminating copayments entirely for families earning up to 125% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) — which is roughly $37,500 per year for a family of four.

For working families who earn more than that threshold, the bill limits how much they can be required to pay. Most families would see their child care copayments capped at no more than 6% of their income, though the bill preserves an absolute maximum of 7% that could apply in limited circumstances. This means that even as a family earns more income, their child care costs through the program cannot grow beyond a set percentage of what they make, providing more predictable and affordable costs for low- and moderate-income households.

This bill primarily affects lower- and middle-income Rhode Island families with young children who rely on the state's child care assistance program to help cover the cost of licensed child care. Child care providers who serve families in this program could also be affected indirectly. The bill has been introduced and referred to the House Finance Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.