New Mexico Register / Volume XXXV, Issue 19 / October 8, 2024

This is an amendment to 8.9.3 NMAC, Sections 3 & 15 effective 10/08/2024

8.9.3.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Subsection E of Section 9-29-6 NMSA 1978; [Section 7-9-121 NMSA 1978.] Section 7-9-77.2 NMSA 1978.

[8.9.3.3 NMAC - N, 11/01/2022; A, 10/08/2024]

8.9.3.15 PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS: Child care providers must abide by all department regulations. Child care provided for recreational or other purposes, or at times other than those outlined in the child care placement agreement, are paid for by the client.

A. All child care providers who receive child care assistance reimbursements are required to be licensed or registered by the department and meet and maintain compliance with the appropriate licensing and registration regulations in order to receive payment for child care services. Beginning July 1, 2012, child care programs holding a 1-star license are not eligible for child care assistance subsidies. The department honors properly issued military child care licenses to providers located on military bases and tribal child care licenses properly issued to providers located on tribal lands.

B. Signed child care placement agreements (including electronically signed child care placement agreements) must be returned by hand delivery, mail, email, fax, or electronic submission to the local child care office within 30 calendar days of issuance. Failure to comply may affect payment for services and the child care placement agreement will be closed. The department will provide reasonable accommodations to allow a client or provider to meet this requirement.

C. Child care providers collect required copayments from clients and provide child care according to the terms outlined in the child care placement agreement.

D. Notification of changes: Child care providers must notify the department if a child is disenrolled or child care has not been used for 14 consecutive calendar days without notice from the client. If a client notifies the provider of non-attendance beyond 14 consecutive calendar days, the department will continue to pay the provider for the period of non-attendance, not to exceed six weeks following the first date of nonattendance.

(1) If the provider notifies the department of the above, the provider will be paid through the period of nonattendance, not to exceed six weeks.

(2) If a provider does not notify the department of disenrollment or of non-use for 14 consecutive calendar days, the provider will be paid through the last date of attendance.

(3) If a child was withdrawn from a provider because the health, safety, or welfare of the child was at risk, as determined by a substantiated compliant against the child care provider, payment to the former provider will be made through the last day that care was provided.

(4) Providers who do not comply with this requirement are sanctioned and may be subject to recoupment or disallowance of payments as provided in 8.9.3.21 NMAC.

E. Child care providers accept the rate the department pays for child care and are not allowed to charge families receiving child care assistance above the department rate for the hours listed on the child care placement agreement. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in sanctions.

(1) Providers are not allowed to charge clients a registration/educational fee for any child who is receiving child care assistance benefits as listed under 8.9.3 NMAC. The rates set forth below are informed by a cost estimation model and include expenses for registration/educational fees per child and child and family activities on behalf of clients under 8.9.3 NMAC.

(2) In situations where an incidental cost may occur such as field trips, special lunches or other similar situations, the child care provider is allowed to charge the child care assistance family the additional cost, provided the cost does not exceed that charged to private pay families.

(3) Child care providers are not allowed to charge child care assistance families the [applicable] gross receipts tax for the sum of the child care assistance benefit and copayment. Child care providers may claim the gross receipts tax deduction pursuant to Section 7-9-77.2 NMSA 1978, as applicable. 

F. Under emergency circumstances, when ECECD has reason to believe that the health, safety or welfare of a child is at risk, the department may immediately suspend or terminate assistance payments to a licensed or registered provider. The child care resource and referral will assist clients with choosing another ECECD approved provider.

G. Owners and licensees may not receive child care subsidy payments to provide care for their own children.

H. Providers who are found to have engaged in fraud relating to any state or federal programs, or who have pending charges for or convictions of any criminal charge related to financial practices will not be eligible to participate in the subsidy program.

I. Providers must promote the equal access of services for all children and families by developing and implementing policies and procedures that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, or age (40 or older).

[8.9.3.15 NMAC - N, 11/01/2022; A, 8/1/2023; A 10/08/2024]