The following broadcast was released by the Alaska Department of Health Child Care Program Office on October 21, 2024.
The Child Care Program Office (CCPO) is sending notification of proposed changes on Child Care Assistance Program Regulations 7 AAC 41. Please read this notice carefully for instructions on how to comment. The comment period ends 5 p.m. on November 18, 2024. We encourage you to share this information with the any interested parties.
Brief Description
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the child care assistance program. The proposed changes are related to recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care, and include the following:***
***Please Note. Details related to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care. The purpose of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care is “to develop a plan to improve availability and affordability of … child care throughout Alaska. The related details may be accessed on the State of Alaska’s website at https://health.alaska.gov/Commissioner/Pages/cctf/default.aspx ; https://gov.alaska.gov/governor-dunleavy-establishes-task-force-on-child-care/ ; and https://gov.alaska.gov/admin-orders/administrative-order-no-346/ .***
7 AAC 41.200. Provider eligibility and qualifications, is proposed to include the following changes. Remove the requirement of tribal entities having to meet or exceed the health and safety requirements.
7 AAC 41.200(b)(2), the requirement that a child care provider who is only providing care to a qualifying relative have at least a high school diploma, general educational development (GED) diploma, or the equivalent, is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to reduce barriers for an individual who wants to become a license-exempt child care provider.
You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Ms. Ambra Mavis, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office, 3601 C Street, Suite 140, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at ambra.mavis@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on November 18, 2024.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on November 14, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., by calling 1-800-893-7840 (TOLL-FREE). Please note that in-person attendance will not be provided at the hearing site. Please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone. If you call to provide oral testimony, you should be on the line before the hearing begins at 1:00 p.m. The Department of Health will give priority to those who call in before 2:30 p.m. The Department of Health may, before the hearing begins, limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony. The time limit may be necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Ambra Mavis, by electronic mail at ambra.mavis@alaska.gov, or at Ms. Ambra Mavis, State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office, 3601 C Street, Suite 140, Anchorage, AK 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Ambra Mavis by electronic mail at ambra.mavis@alaska.gov, or by telephone at (907) 500-4375 not later than November 7, 2024, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Ms. Ambra Mavis by e-mail at ambra.mavis@alaska.gov, or by telephone at (907) 500-4375.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation.
You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory authority: AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.340; AS 47.25.001.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.300; AS 47.05.310; AS 47.05.340; AS 47.25.001.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
The Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office/Department of Health (DOH) keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office/DOH notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office/DOH at ambra.mavis@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.
Thank you,
Child Care Program Office