Section 7 AAC 41.015 - Responsibilities of designees(a) The department may designate an entity or a municipal government to administer child care assistance program services within a specified geographic area for families and child care providers under this chapter. A municipality will be given preference over other organizations, as required by AS 47.25.001(b)(2).(b) If the department designates an entity or municipal government to perform certain functions on the department's behalf, those functions may include one or more of the following for providers and for families: (1) provide program information; (2) obtain completed applications or renewals;(3) verify and evaluate information supplied by providers and families for participation in the child care assistance program and payment of benefits related to that participation; standing; (4) verify that the provider's current child care license or approval is in good (5) request additional information if necessary to evaluate eligibility; (6) approve or deny participation in the program; (7) determine the amount of child care to authorize, including determination of the family contribution toward the eligible cost of care, and authorize care; (8) evaluate and discuss with a parent the parent's schedule of eligible activities and child care needs; (9) submit applications, evaluations, decisions, or recommendations, and related reports, to the department upon request; (10) provide ongoing review for compliance with the applicable provisions of this chapter and refer suspected noncompliance to the department; (11) determine whether a provider or family becomes ineligible for participation in the program, and, if so, discontinue authorization and payment and issue notice in accordance with 7 AAC 41.405; (12) except as provided in (e) of this section, receive and process complaints; (13) ensure all actions for family and provider participation is maintained in a state-provided data system, as applicable.(14) provide information a resources to families and providers regarding developmental screening for children;(15) provide information to families and providers regarding program participation and resources for families experiencing homelessness; and(16) provide a child care provider consumer statement to families including information on how to find a child care provider, review a provider's compliance, access information regarding a provider's participation in a voluntary quality recognition and improvement system, file a complaint against a child care provider, and find the program's established reimbursement rate.(c) A designee shall refer a provider subject to licensure under AS 47.32 and 7 AAC 57 to the department.(d) A designee shall deny or discontinue a family's or a provider's participation in the program if the family or provider is ineligible under AS 47.25.001-47.25.095 or this chapter. Subject to 7 AAC 41.400 - 7 AAC 41.450, the designee shall mail to the provider or the family, as applicable, a written determination of denial or discontinuance of participation in the program and a request for an administrative hearing form. Under 7 AAC 41.400 - 7 AAC 41.450, a designee may submit to the department a recommendation regarding any change in program participation based on noncompliance with AS 47.25.001 - 47.25.095 or this chapter.(e) A designee shall immediately report to the department any noncompliance with this chapter. The department will evaluate the report and, if the department determines that an on-site investigation is warranted, will conduct an on-site investigation and make findings based on the investigation.(f) The department may separately approve, deny, monitor, and investigate providers and families, regardless of whether a designation has been made under this section.(g) If the designation under this section is accomplished through a grant or contract, the designee shall administer its grant or contract in compliance with this chapter, other applicable state or federal law, and the grant or contract, regardless of whether the designee has subcontracted administrative duties to a subcontractor. Any subcontract must require the subcontractor to administer the subcontract in compliance with this chapter, and other applicable state or federal law.(h) A designee shall only use forms prescribed by the department to administer the child care assistance program and may not require additional designee forms as part of a family's or provider's eligibility for program participation.Eff. 6/23/2006, Register 178; am 2/9/2007, Register 181; am 1/5/2017, Register 221, April 2017; am 10/31/2019, Register 232, January 2020Authority:AS 47.05.300
AS 47.05.310
AS 47.05.340
AS 47.25.001