(a) Except for a child experiencing homelessness, as described in §809.52 of this chapter, and for child care during job search, as described in §809.56 of this chapter, if the child met all of the applicable eligibility requirements for child care services in this subchapter on the date of the most recent eligibility determination or redetermination, the child shall be considered to be eligible and will receive services during the 12-month eligibility period described in §809.42 of this chapter, regardless of any:
(1) change in family income, if that family income does not exceed 85 percent of SMI for a family of the same size; or
(2) temporary change in the ongoing status of the child's parent as working or attending a job training or education program. A temporary change shall include, at a minimum, any:
(b) During the period of time between eligibility redeterminations, a Board shall discontinue child care services due to a parent's loss of work or cessation of attendance at a job training or educational program that does not constitute a temporary change in accordance with subsection (a)(2) of this section. However, Boards must ensure that care continues at the same level for a period of not less than three months after such loss of work or cessation of attendance at a job training or educational program.
(c) If a parent resumes work or attendance at a job training or education program at any level and at any time during the period described in subsection (b) of this section, then the Board shall ensure that:
(1) care will continue to the end of the 12-month eligibility period at the same or greater level, depending upon any increase in the activity hours of the parent;
(2) the parent share of cost will not be increased during the remainder of the 12-month eligibility period, including for parents who are exempt from the parent share of cost pursuant to §809.19 of this chapter; and
(3) the Board's child care contractor verifies only:
(d) The Board may suspend child care services during interruptions in the parent's work, job training, or education status only at the concurrence of the parent.
Source Note: The provisions of this §809.51 adopted to be effective October 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 7529; amended to be effective October 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 6437