(2) The office shall establish criteria for proposals, prepare requests for proposals, receive proposals and award grants or enter into agreements for the establishment of resource and referral entities. [2017 c.187 §8]

Note: Sections 1 to 3, chapter 586, Oregon Laws 2019, provide:

Sec. 1. Task Force on Access to Quality Affordable Child Care. (1) As used in this section, "child care" means the compensated care, supervision and guidance, on a regular basis, of a child, unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian.

(2) The Task Force on Access to Quality Affordable Child Care is established.

(3) The task force consists of 17 members appointed as follows:

(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two members from among members of the Senate.

(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members from among members of the House of Representatives.

(c) The Governor shall appoint 13 members as follows:

(A) One member who has expertise in family economic security;

(B) One member who is an advocate for early childhood supports;

(C) Two members who are advocates for culturally specific early childhood programs for underserved families;

(D) One member who represents child care facilities certified under ORS 329A.280;

(E) One member who represents family child care providers who operate family child care homes certified under ORS 329A.280 or registered under ORS 329A.330;

(F) One member who represents child care providers that receive subsidies for child care;

(G) Two members who are parents of children from a demographic that was historically or is presently underserved;

(H) One member who represents Early Learning Hubs as defined in ORS 417.827;

(I) One member of the business community;

(J) One member who is a representative of the Early Learning Division established under ORS 326.430; and

(K) One member who is a representative of the Department of Human Services.

(4)(a) The task force shall:

(A) Study why eligible families are not using child care subsidies and make recommendations for how to increase eligible families’ use of child care subsidies; and

(B) Study and make recommendations to expand access to high-quality, subsidized child care for families that currently are not eligible for subsidized child care and cannot otherwise afford or access child care.

(b) In making recommendations under this subsection, the task force shall consider:

(A) The availability of high-quality child care providers that meet the needs of families, including culturally specific care and workable hours of operation;

(B) Copayments;

(C) Burdensome administrative practices and requirements;

(D) Reimbursement rates;

(E) The economic stability of families receiving child care subsidies;

(F) Access to professional development and quality supports; and

(G) That access to child care allows parents to work and provides positive development opportunities for children.

(5) A majority of the voting members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(6) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the task force.

(7) The task force shall elect one of its voting members to serve as chairperson.

(8) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective.

(9) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting members of the task force.

(10) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force.

(11) The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall provide staff support to the task force with the assistance of the Early Learning Division and the Department of Human Services.

(12) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the task force are nonvoting members of the task force and may act in an advisory capacity only.

(13) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the task force in the performance of the task force’s duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties.

(14) The task force shall report its findings and recommendations, in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to education no later than December 31, 2020. [2019 c.586 §1]

Sec. 2. Studies and reports related to child care. (1) The Early Learning Division established under ORS 326.430 shall:

(a) Study and prepare a report on the existing child care subsidy programs in Oregon, including the following:

(A) The total amount of federal and state funds allocated to or spent on child care subsidies, training, quality or administration during the 2017-2019 biennium and, to the greatest extent practicable, the 2019-2021 biennium;

(B) The total population served by child care subsidy programs;

(C) The eligibility requirements for obtaining child care subsidies and the percentage of the eligible population that is obtaining child care subsidies;

(D) The copayments and provider rates for child care subsidies;

(E) The administration and governance structure of child care subsidies;

(F) The benefits and hours of operation of subsidized child care; and

(G) The professional development opportunities, accreditation and licensing standards and recruitment efforts for child care providers.

(b) Study and prepare a report on the supply of and demand for child care by geography and household demographic information, including age, race and ethnicity and language spoken in the home.

(c) Study and prepare a report on the barriers to accessing existing child care subsidies, including conducting voluntary interviews or surveys of families that have accessed child care subsidies in the past, families that access child care subsidies presently and child care caseworkers or providers who have assisted families with accessing child care subsidies.

(2)(a) No later than December 31, 2019, the Early Learning Division shall submit to the Task Force on Access to Quality Affordable Child Care established under section 1 of this 2019 Act the report described in subsection (1)(a) of this section.

(b) No later than June 30, 2020, the Early Learning Division shall submit to the Task Force on Access to Quality Affordable Child Care established under section 1 of this 2019 Act the reports described in subsection (1)(b) and (c) of this section.

(3) The Early Learning Division may contract with a third-party research organization to assist with or complete any of the studying or reporting requirements under subsection (1) of this section. [2019 c.586 §2]

Sec. 3. Sunset. Sections 1 and 2 of this 2019 Act are repealed on January 2, 2021. [2019 c.586 §3]