Add Montana Child Care Assistance Program (Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship)

changelog.d/mt-ccap.added.md

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+Add Montana Child Care Assistance Program (Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship).

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/hhs/ccdf/child_care_subsidy_programs.yaml

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ values:
     - ky_child_care_subsidies  # Kentucky Child Care Assistance Program
     - ma_child_care_subsidies  # Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance
     - me_child_care_subsidies  # Maine Child Care Affordability Program
+    - mt_child_care_subsidies  # Montana Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship
     - ne_child_care_subsidies  # Nebraska Child Care Subsidy
     - vt_child_care_subsidies  # Vermont Child Care Financial Assistance Program
     - nh_child_care_subsidies  # New Hampshire Child Care Scholarship Program

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/age_group/months.yaml

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+description: Montana sets these child age group boundaries in months under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# The published rate table lists three age groups (Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School
+# Age) but states no month cutoffs. These boundaries are a documented assumption:
+# 0-35 months = Infant/Toddler, 36-59 months = Preschool, 60+ months = School Age.
+# Amounts are enum indices: 0 = INFANT_TODDLER, 1 = PRESCHOOL, 2 = SCHOOL_AGE.
+metadata:
+  type: single_amount
+  threshold_unit: month
+  amount_unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP child age group by months
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Scholarship Half-Time & Full-Time Monthly Rates
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/documentsandresources/BBSProviderRatesMonthly.pdf
+
+brackets:
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 0
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 36
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 1
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 60
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 2

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/copayment/copay_rate.yaml

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+description: Montana sets this share of gross monthly income as the copayment under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# The copayment share varies by the family's federal poverty guideline ratio.
+# Sliding fee scale rows are in 5-point % FPG steps; each rate tier applies to income
+# above the prior step's top up to and including the named step (e.g., the 1.0% tier
+# covers income above 100% FPG through 110% FPG). Thresholds use the "+ 0.0001" shift
+# so a family exactly at a step's top stays in the lower tier. The top tier (7.0%)
+# runs through 200% FPG (graduated eligibility); above 200% the household is not
+# eligible (gated separately by the income limit).
+metadata:
+  type: single_amount
+  threshold_unit: /1
+  amount_unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP copayment rate by FPG ratio
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Sliding Fee Scale (effective 07-01-2025)
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/SlidingFeeScale07012023.pdf
+
+brackets:
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 0
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.005  # Entry through 100% FPG
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.0001  # Above 100% through 110% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.01
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.1001  # Above 110% through 120% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.015
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.2001  # Above 120% through 130% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.02
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.3001  # Above 130% through 140% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.025
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.4001  # Above 140% through 145% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.03
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.4501  # Above 145% through 150% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.035
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.5001  # Above 150% through 155% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.04
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.5501  # Above 155% through 160% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.045
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.6001  # Above 160% through 165% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.05
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.6501  # Above 165% through 170% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.055
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.7001  # Above 170% through 175% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.06
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.7501  # Above 175% through 180% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.065
+  - threshold:
+      2025-07-01: 1.8001  # Above 180% through 200% FPG
+    amount:
+      2025-07-01: 0.07

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/copayment/minimum.yaml

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+description: Montana sets this minimum monthly copayment under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+values:
+  2025-07-01: 10
+
+metadata:
+  unit: currency-USD
+  period: month
+  label: Montana CCAP minimum monthly copayment
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Sliding Fee Scale (effective 07-01-2025)
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/SlidingFeeScale07012023.pdf

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/eligibility/activity_hours/single_parent.yaml

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+description: Montana requires single-parent families to work at least this many hours per month under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 60
+
+metadata:
+  unit: hour
+  period: month
+  label: Montana CCAP single-parent monthly activity hours
+  reference:
+    - title: Child Care 2-3 Non-TANF Activity Requirements, Minimum Hourly Work Requirement
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/CC23NonTANFActivity070718.pdf#page=1
+    - title: Mont. Admin. R. 37.80.201
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-37.80.201

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/eligibility/activity_hours/two_parent.yaml

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+description: Montana requires two-parent families to work at least this many hours per month under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 120
+
+metadata:
+  unit: hour
+  period: month
+  label: Montana CCAP two-parent monthly activity hours
+  reference:
+    - title: Child Care 2-3 Non-TANF Activity Requirements, Minimum Hourly Work Requirement
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/CC23NonTANFActivity070718.pdf#page=1
+    - title: Mont. Admin. R. 37.80.201
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-37.80.201

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/eligibility/child_age_limit.yaml

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+description: Montana limits eligibility to children under this age under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# The manual references child eligibility in Policy Section 1-6 (not available); this
+# is the CCDF default under-13 age limit (45 CFR 98.20).
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 13
+
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP child age limit
+  reference:
+    - title: Mont. Admin. R. 37.80.201
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-37.80.201
+    - title: 45 CFR 98.20(a)(1)
+      href: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-98.20#p-98.20(a)(1)

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/eligibility/special_needs_child_age_limit.yaml

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+description: Montana limits eligibility to children with special needs under this age under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# The manual references child eligibility in Policy Section 1-6 (not available); this
+# is the CCDF special-needs age limit (45 CFR 98.20, younger than 19).
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 19
+
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP special needs child age limit
+  reference:
+    - title: Mont. Admin. R. 37.80.201
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-37.80.201
+    - title: 45 CFR 98.20(a)(1)
+      href: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-98.20#p-98.20(a)(1)

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/income/countable_income/sources.yaml

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+description: Montana uses these income sources as countable income under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+values:
+  2016-11-01:
+    # Earned income (CC 2-6: Commissions/Salary/Wages, AmeriCorps VISTA, College
+    # Work Study, Internship, Jury Duty, Military Allotment, WIA-as-Work, Tips,
+    # Bonuses, Training Allowance, dependent child not attending school)
+    - employment_income
+    - self_employment_income  # Self-employment, sale of blood, FFN/RCP provider, farm
+    - sstb_self_employment_income
+    - farm_operations_income
+    # Unearned income
+    - interest_income  # Interest, dividend, royalty, annuity, trust fund, capital investment returns
+    - dividend_income
+    - rental_income  # Rental/lease income, contract for deed
+    - social_security  # SS and SSDI counted; SSI excluded (social_security omits SSI)
+    - pension_income  # Government pension, annuity, railroad retirement, veterans' pensions
+    - retirement_distributions
+    - unemployment_compensation
+    - workers_compensation
+    - child_support_received  # Child support retained, "in excess", arrearage
+    - alimony_income
+    - disability_benefits
+    - capital_gains  # Counted as a lump sum
+    - veterans_benefits  # Veterans' pensions and benefits (educational VA payments excluded)
+    # TANF cash (child-only/tribal) is excluded here to break the childcare<->TANF
+    # circular dependency (mt_tanf's dependent care deduction reads childcare_expenses,
+    # which nets out child_care_subsidies). TANF cash-assistance families are handled
+    # via the is_tanf_enrolled categorical pathway and the flat $10 copay instead.
+
+metadata:
+  unit: list
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP countable income sources
+  reference:
+    - title: Child Care 2-6 Income Evaluation Table (pp. 1-14)
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/CC26IncomeTable070718.pdf#page=1

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/income/fpg_limit.yaml

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+description: Montana limits gross income to this share of the federal poverty guideline under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# Operational sliding fee scale value, not the 150% in the ARM 37.80.202 body text.
+# The scale runs standard eligibility through 185% FPG and graduated eligibility
+# (non-TANF over-income families) through 200% FPG; 200% is the outer eligibility
+# ceiling. Graduated eligibility was added effective 11-01-2016.
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 2
+
+metadata:
+  unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP income limit share of federal poverty guideline
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Sliding Fee Scale (effective 07-01-2025)
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/SlidingFeeScale07012023.pdf
+    - title: Mont. Admin. R. 37.80.202
+      href: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/montana/Mont-Admin-r-37.80.202

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/income/income_limit_smi_rate.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+description: Montana limits gross income to this share of state median income under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# Households over 85% SMI are not eligible; this ceiling overlays the FPG brackets.
+values:
+  2016-11-01: 0.85
+
+metadata:
+  unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: Montana CCAP income limit share of state median income
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Sliding Fee Scale (effective 07-01-2025)
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/policymanual/SlidingFeeScale07012023.pdf

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/mt/dphhs/ccap/rates/provider_rates.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+description: Montana provides these maximum monthly reimbursement rates under the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship program.
+# Rates vary by provider type, age group, and care time.
+metadata:
+  period: month
+  unit: currency-USD
+  label: Montana CCAP maximum monthly provider rates
+  breakdown:
+    - mt_ccap_provider_type
+    - mt_ccap_child_age_category
+    - mt_ccap_care_time
+  reference:
+    - title: Best Beginnings Scholarship Half-Time & Full-Time Monthly Rates
+      href: https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/ecfsd/childcare/documentsandresources/BBSProviderRatesMonthly.pdf
+
+CENTER:
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 638
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 1_276
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 605
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 1_210
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 550
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 1_100
+GROUP_HOME:
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 528
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 1_056
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 495
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 990
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 495
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 990
+FAMILY_HOME:
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 495
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 990
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 440
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 880
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 440
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 880
+FFN:
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 423.5
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 841.5
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 374
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 748
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 374
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 748
+RELATIVE_EXEMPT:
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 374
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 742.5
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 330
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 660
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 330
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 660
+SCHOOL_AGE_PROVIDER:
+  # School Age Provider does not serve infants/toddlers; these cells are NA on the
+  # published rate table and are encoded as 0 (not payable).
+  INFANT_TODDLER:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 0
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 0
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 286
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 572
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    HALF_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 286
+    FULL_TIME:
+      2025-07-01: 572

policyengine_us/programs.yaml

@@ -554,6 +554,12 @@ programs:
         name: Maine CCAP
         full_name: Maine Child Care Affordability Program
         variable: me_ccap
+      - state: MT
+        status: complete
+        name: Montana BBCCS
+        full_name: Montana Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship
+        variable: mt_child_care_subsidies
+        parameter_prefix: gov.states.mt.dphhs.ccap
       - state: IA
         status: complete
         name: Iowa CCA