Licensing laws and rules remain essentially unchanged under the W-2 legislation, except for a requirement for criminal records checks. Licensing is administered at the state level and includes extensive health and safety standards, staff qualification standards, and ongoing monitoring. Providers who are not required to be licensed are required under W-2 to be certified for public funding. Certification is intended to ensure basic protections for children when public funds pay for child care. Certification standards include criminal record checks and simple health and safety standards.
Certification requires a site visit to ensure compliance with standards.
Individuals living in the child's household are not eligible to be certified and cannot be reimbursed for child care provided. Reimbursement Rates Maximum reimbursement rates are set locally, at the county or tribal level. The rate system reflects the private market and provides incentives for providers to increase their training and qualifications in order to move to higher reimbursement levels. Counties and participating tribes will be responsible for certifying providers, setting reimbursement rates, authorizing child care services, and reimbursing providers. A statewide automated system is in place for payments to be made centrally.