Rhode Island General Laws Title 40. Human Services § 40-6.6-4. Right of CCAP family child care providers to choose provider representative--subjects of negotiation

(a) CCAP family child care providers may, in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 40-6.6-9, choose a provider organization to be their provider representative and to negotiate with the director, or his or her designee, over the terms and conditions of CCAP family child care providers' participation in CCAP, including, but not limited to: (1) Expanding training and professional development opportunities; (2) Improving the recruitment and retention of qualified CCAP family child care providers; (3) Reimbursement rates and other economic matters; (4) Benefits; (5) Payment procedures; and (6) A grievance resolution process.

(b) Notwithstanding the above, all matters within the scope of the department of children, youth and families (DCYF) child care licensing regulations and the DCYF's regulatory authority over child care licensing shall be excluded from and not subject to negotiations and/or the collective bargaining process as recognized in this section. DCYF's authority to initiate licensing action pertaining to family child care providers shall be exclusively governed by provisions in § 42-72.1-6 and chapter 42-35.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, CCAP family child care providers must first be qualified as CCAP family child care providers by the department of human services and must operate in conformance with the relevant sections of 42-12 and regulations promulgated by the department.

(d) The director shall work in consultation with the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, as well as the director of the department of human services, regarding the terms and conditions of CCAP family child care providers' participation in CCAP including, but not limited to, the terms and conditions in subsection (a).