NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. Summary of proposed changes: The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with child care provider rates, child care assistance eligibility, and family contributions. The proposed changes include the following:*** • 7 AAC 41.012. Parents achieving self-sufficiency (PASS) is proposed to be changed as follows: o revise the Parents Achieving Self-Sufficiency (PASS) program by expanding the number of assistance categories from three to five; o clarify that PASS III serves eligible families with income at or below 85 percent of the State Median Income regardless of prior participation in other PASS categories; o establish two new categories: (1) PASS IV, to provide child care assistance for children receiving child protective services through the Department of Family & Community Services (DFCS), Office of Children's Services; and (2) PASS V, to provide child care assistance to eligible families with income between 86 percent and 105 percent of the State Median Income. • 7 AAC 41.025. Program rates is proposed to be changed as follows: o Amend to include an updated version of a department document adopted by reference, the Child Care Assistance Program Rate Schedule. o Update the age-group definitions used to determine categories of care by revising the age ranges for infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and school-age children, and address minors with developmental disabilities who are older than school-age. • 7 AAC 41.305. Family eligibility determination is proposed to be changed as follows: o Increase the income threshold used during the 12-month eligibility period from 85 percent to 105 percent of the state median income. o Update language to account for the age limit set out in the statutory definition of "child" under AS 47.25.095. • 7 AAC 41.335. Family income and contribution schedule is proposed to be changed as follows: o Amend to include an updated version of a department document adopted by reference, the Family Income and Contribution Schedule. • 7 AAC 41.350. Eligibility of child is proposed to be changed as follows: o Update language to account for the age limit set out in the statutory definition of "child" under AS 47.25.095. o Repeal 7 AAC 41.350(c) to account for the age limit set out in the statutory definition of "child" under AS 47.25.095. Written comments: You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to State of Alaska, Department of Health, Child Care Program Office, Division of Public Assistance, 3601 C Street, Suite 140, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by electronic mail at doh.dpa.public.comments@alaska.gov . Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 14, 2026. Oral hearing: You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on August 26, 2026, by calling 1-800-315-6338 (U.S. Toll Fee), and using the Conference ID 988-6631. There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 12:45 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, Department of Health may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided. Questions: You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Karen Benson, by electronic mail at doh.dpa.public.comments@alaska.gov , or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 140, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health may aggregate its responses to substantially similar questions and will make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public. Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Ms. Karen Benson, by electronic mail at doh.dpa.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 223-2516 not later than August 18, 2026, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Ms. Karen Benson, by electronic mail at doh.dpa.public.comments@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 223-2516. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Statutory authority: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.25.001; AS 47.25.041; AS 47.25.051. Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 47.05.010; AS 47.25.001; AS 47.25.021; AS 47.25.031; AS 47.25.041; AS 47.25.051; AS 47.25.095. Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation. How to receive further notices: The Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance to doh.dpa.public.comments@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices. Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx. DATE: July 30, 2026. /s/Heidi Hedberg Commissioner, Department of Health State of Alaska. Pub: Aug. 5, 2026