Sec.17b-749-07. Notice requirements

(a) Requirements of the CCAP Administrator

(1) Parents shall be notified of their rights and responsibilities as specified in section 17b-749-2 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, including but not limited to the need to report changes in household circumstances to the CCAP administrator within ten days of the date of the change. Providers shall be notified of their responsibility to report changes in accordance with requirements of subdivision (b)(5) of section 17b-749-12 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(2) Parents shall be notified of the receipt of an initial or reopened application, of any actions they are required to complete and the effect of any reported or requested changes on eligibility or the level of benefits.

(3) When a Social Security number is requested, parents shall be notified if the disclosure of the number is not mandatory.

(4) Parents and their current providers for whom a completed child care agreement form has been submitted shall be notified of the following circumstances:

(A) action to grant or deny assistance;

(B) assignment to the wait list;

(C) the scheduling of a redetermination and the results of the redetermination;

(D) changes affecting program eligibility, provider eligibility or eligibility of an individual child;

(E) a change in the payee; and

(F) increases or decreases in benefit or payment amounts.

(5) Parents shall be notified when their case is assigned to a specific worker and when their case is reassigned to a different worker.

(6) Parents assigned to the wait list shall be notified of changes in their priority status, if they are removed from the wait list and of any actions necessary to maintain eligibility for the wait list.

(7) All notices of actions taken by the CCAP administrator or actions required by the parent or provider shall be given in writing. Written notice shall include documents and forms delivered by mail, in person, by facsimile machine or through formalized electronic communication processes established with the parent or provider. Each notice shall contain sufficient information to allow the parent or provider to clearly understand the reason for the action and the relevant state statute or regulation upon which the action is based.

(8) Parents shall be notified of their rights to an administrative hearing whenever an action is taken that affects eligibility, benefits, provider eligibility or eligibility for the wait list. Parents shall be notified of their right to an administrative disqualification hearing pursuant to section 17b-749-22 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(9) Parents and providers shall be notified of their right to speak to a CCAP supervisor or someone not directly involved with the case if they are not satisfied with the actions taken by the case worker.

(b) Date of Notification

The date of notification shall be the date a notice is issued by the CCAP administrator.

(c) Adverse Action Notice Requirements

(1) Parents and their approved provider(s) shall be notified when a change in circumstances results in the discontinuance, termination or reduction in benefits.

(2) Adverse action notices shall contain a reference to the relevant statute or regulation upon which such action was based.

(3) Notice shall be given at least ten days prior to the effective date of the intended action, except as specified in subdivision (4) of this subsection.

(4) Notice shall be given no later than the effective date of the action under the following circumstances:

(A) when the a child who is receiving child care assistance is deceased;

(B) when a parent who is the only adult member of the family is deceased;

(C) when the Department receives a written request to discontinue benefits from the parent;

(D) when changes are made following completion of a redetermination;

(E) when mail is returned with no forwarding address and the CCAP administrator is not able to determine the whereabouts of the family from other department records;

(F) when the parent or a child for whom assistance was requested is granted public benefits in another state;

(G) when a child who receives assistance is removed from the home by the Department of Children and Families or is placed in foster care;

(H) when assistance is granted for a specific period of time and written notice was given at the time of the grant explaining that eligibility or benefits will terminate at the end of the specified period;

(I) when an application for benefits is denied;

(J) when the parent or provider informs the CCAP administrator that the child is no longer receiving care or has changed providers;

(K) when a provider becomes ineligible for payment incentives for accreditation or professional development pursuant to subsection (d) of section 17b-749-13 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(L) when the Department of Public Health notifies the CCAP administrator that the provider's licensed has been revoked; and

(M) when the CCAP administrator has obtained reliable evidence that the child care provider does not meet the health and safety requirements of the CCAP program specified in subsection 17b-749-12 (c) to subsection 17b-749-12 (f) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, inclusive.

(Adopted effective July 10, 2001)