Senate File 601 - Child Care Provider Payments

By The IFL

Dear Readers,

URGENT!  PLEASE CONTACT GOVERNOR CULVER!

Registered child care providers play an essential role in our economy, making it possible for parents to earn a living, while giving tens of thousands of children a strong start in life.

Running a family child care program requires not only a strong personal commitment to children, but also a large financial investment that covers supplies such as cribs, books, educational toys, changing tables, safety gates, diapers and food.  For providers who care for children under the state subsidy program, there is little left over from their meager payments.

When state payments are late, it is almost impossible to get by.  Currently, providers work for an entire month before they can submit a payment claim.  Then they must wait several weeks or more to receive the check.  In a recent survey, 72% of respondents report that they have had trouble receiving their payments for state-subsidized child care in a reasonable time.

The Legislature agreed that late payments are inexcusable and passed a provision in SF 601 that would allow child care service providers receiving state payments to elect a biweekly or monthly billing and payment plan.  In addition, unless there is a problem, the state would be required to remit payment to a provider within 10 days of receiving a bill for services paid.

Please help make sure the Governor retains this section in SF 601.  Send an e-mail today!

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Governor Chet Culver (if you live in Iowa)

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Senate File 601 - Child Care Provider Payments

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

Child care providers who care for children through state subsidy programs deserve to be paid in a timely manner. They depend on their child care payments to pay their bills and provide for necessities.

Please keep the child care provider payment provision in SF 601.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Yourself