In an effort to make the Office of Child Care within the AZ Dept of Health Services self-sufficient, Interim Director Will Humble is proposing rate hikes of up to 8800% to take effect in less than three months, on January 1, 2010.
Public Hearings will be held in Tucson and Phoenix, more information about the proposed fee increases is available on the Departments website: http://www.azdhs.gov/diro/admin_rules/licensingFees.htm
The Sonoran Alliance for Youth, an association of school-age child care providers in Pima County, is advocating for a more reasonable increase in fees and implementation timeline. You can read their letter to Governor Brewer, Legislators and Director Humber here – Sonoran Alliance for Youth Concerns and Solutions Regarding Child Care Licensing Fee Increases and Timeline
Links to news articles:
Arizona Republic – Child-care sticker shock, Oct. 8, 2009
Arizona Daily Star – Child-care centers’ state fees to surge, Oct. 8, 2009
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