MO SB727

Repeals existing section 208.044 relating to child care services and enacts two new sections (208.044 and 208.053) to establish the "Low-Wage Trap Elimination Act"

Requires the children's division and department of revenue to implement a voluntary "Hand-Up Program" pilot in at least one rural county and one urban child care center serving 300+ families by January 1, 2013

Allows eligible participants whose income exceeds the full child care benefits threshold to continue receiving benefits by paying a monthly premium equal to 44% of their excess income above the maximum allowable monthly income

Restricts participation to recipients who continuously received full child care benefits since on or before August 28, 2012, with a 90-day enrollment window and one-time opt-out provision

Creates the "Hand-Up Program Premium Fund" to collect premiums, with initial administrative costs paid from the fund and subsequent surplus premiums shared with federal and state general revenue according to existing cost-sharing ratios

Requires annual reports to the general assembly starting January 1, 2014, detailing program effectiveness, participation numbers, tax revenue, and analysis of expansion to other assistance programs

Automatically sunsets three years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the general assembly, with a six-year sunset if reauthorized