EEC begins rulemaking to raise income eligibility for child-care vouchers to 85%; public comment open through April 15

The Department of Early Education and Care announced it will promulgate regulations to expand the initial income eligibility for Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) from 50% to 85% of state median income and to codify priority populations and other program rules, the agency told its March advisory council.

The change was included in the FY25 budget language and the agency said the board voted in January to move the regulatory process forward. The formal public comment period opened Feb. 14 and will accept comments through April 15; the department is hosting a public engagement event on April 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to collect oral testimony and will accept written submissions through its website.

The action follows statutory direction in the FY25 budget that requires codification of several CCFA policies. Commissioner (name given in meeting as “Commissioner”) said the regulatory steps are being taken to “codify that change” and to write into formal regulation existing priority populations — including families experiencing homelessness, families experiencing domestic violence, young parents and families with a child with a disability — and to add priority access for early education and care staff.

Tyrese, the staff member who outlined the proposed regulatory language, told the council that the codification work will also clarify that CCFA benefits should not be counted in calculations of other public assistance programs. He said the department will continue efforts to streamline paperwork, update technology and improve language access as part of the implementation.

Tyrese said the board had voted in January to send the proposed regulations into the formal promulgation process and that the department is now collecting public comment: “Comments will be accepted through April 15…we're gonna have our public engagement event on April 13.”

Commissioner and Tyrese both emphasized that regulatory changes are not the same as immediate program expansion. The department noted that IT and system changes are required before eligibility can be implemented and that the timing of any expansion to serve families up to 85% of SMI will depend on completing those systems changes and on available funding. The commissioner said the administration is not “anticipating being able to open income eligible voucher access necessarily, at the funding levels we have,” while also noting the governor’s supplemental proposal would add $100 million to the agency to support workforce, access and affordability initiatives.

The department asked stakeholders to submit comments through the EEC website; staff said they will review public input and return to the board to vote on final regulations after the comment period closes. The agency also said it will work with its policy working group and interagency partners during policy and procedure development.

Meeting materials and the department’s public-comment posting include further details and instructions for submitting written comments and attending the April public hearing.