Modifies provisions for child care assistance

HB 2614 modifies income eligibility rules for state-funded child care assistance in Missouri. It establishes a sliding fee scale based on family income and size, allowing families to pay reduced fees while receiving subsidies. Families earning above the annual income limit (determined yearly by budget) must pay the full cost of child care, ending their subsidy eligibility. The bill also waives fees for children with special needs and requires applicants to work 20+ hours weekly in licensed child care settings to exclude income from eligibility calculations. These changes directly affect low-income families using state child care programs.