Request for Written Comments: Proposed changes to the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
The proposed rules address the following items in order to comply with state and federal requirements:
- Parent Fee Formula (Effective August 1, 2026)
- § 98.45(b)(5) and § 98.45(l)(3) prohibit States and Territories from charging family co-payments above 7 percent of a family’s income. This is a federal waiver-eligible provision with an August 1, 2026, implementation deadline.
- Parent Fee Consumer Education (Effective August 1, 2026)
- § 98.33 (a)(8) requires lead agencies to provide information on the sliding fee scale for parent co-payments, including the copayment amount a family may expect to pay and policies for waiving co-payments. C.R.S. 26.5-4-111 (4)(a)(I) requires the Department and counties to provide information on parent fees. This is a federal waiver-eligible provision with an August 1, 2026, implementation deadline.
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program Activity (Effective July 1, 2026)
- C.R.S. 26.5-4-111 (15) requires that an applicant be able to satisfy the eligible activity criteria for up to one year by participating in substance use disorder treatment. Participation in a nationally recognized, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment program at an intensive outpatient service level of care or higher must be recognized as an eligible activity for a workforce training program. This has a July 1, 2026, required implementation date.
The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Division has been working with the CCCAP Rule Rewrite committee since January 24, 2025, to engage the community. During these meetings, CCCAP collaborated with county staff, child care providers, families, and community partners to develop the rules that will bring the program into compliance with state and federal requirements.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Please use the link below to provide public comment regarding the draft CCCAP rules by July 14, 2025: https://forms.gle/NmBBemHawHHiTno2A
The draft rules can be viewed using the link below and are also linked in the public comment form. (Redline Draft | Clean Draft | Rule Folder)
NEXT STEPS
The Department will review and consider all public feedback received and will incorporate the recommendations into the draft CCCAP rules, as able. The draft rules will be reviewed by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on August 14, 2025, for initial discussion and again on September 11, 2025, to vote on a recommendation. The Executive Director will hold a discussion hearing to receive feedback and testimony on the proposed rules during the Public Rulemaking Hearing on September 25, 2025, then consider the rules for permanent adoption on October 23, 2025.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
All rulemaking material received and collected, including written comments, recordings of previously held community engagement meetings, and revised versions of the draft CCCAP rules will be publicly accessible and stored in the 2025 CCCAP Rule Rewrite Folder that is linked below.
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/14lSmxC_fkxeO6Hvebpy4EHzPOuP_RaHd
Please review the CDEC Rule Tracker, located on the Rulemaking and Rules Advisory Council's (RAC) webpage, for more detailed information regarding the rulemaking timeline for these rules.
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