FL S0916

Redefines "economically disadvantaged" for school readiness program eligibility from families at or below 150% of the federal poverty level to families at or below 55% of the state median income

Establishes a new tiered parent copayment sliding fee scale based on percentage of state median income: 7% copayment for income at or below 60% SMI, increasing incrementally to 15% for income between 80-85% SMI, with part-time care copayments set at 50% of the full-time amount

Revises the methodology for distributing school readiness program funds to eligible providers, replacing the county-level comparable wage factor calculation with provider cost-of-care or reimbursement rates developed through the Early Learning Programs Estimating Conference

Changes how the annual school readiness program allocation is determined when not set by the General Appropriations Act, requiring consideration of full-time equivalent enrollment estimates, approved cost-of-care rates, total eligible population, and coalition administrative costs

Removes provisions requiring that expenditures from the Gold Seal Quality Care Program, differential payment program, and special needs differential allocations be specifically directed toward federal targeted requirements for improving quality under the Child Care and Development Fund Plan