Copayments.

(1) Effective until October 1, 2026, the department must calculate a monthly copayment according to the following schedule:If the household's income is:Then the household's maximum monthly copayment is:At or below 20 percent of the state median incomeWaived to the extent allowable under federal law; otherwise, a maximum of $15Above 20 percent and at or below 36 percent of the state median income$65Above 36 percent and at or below 50 percent of the state median income$90Above 50 percent and at or below 60 percent of the state median income$165Above 60 percent and at or below 75 percent of the state median income$215(2) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall adopt a copayment model applicable until October 1, 2026, for households with annual incomes above 75 percent of the state median income and at or below 85 percent of the state median income. The model must calculate a copayment for each household that is no greater than seven percent of the household's countable income within this income range.(3) Beginning October 1, 2026, the department must calculate a monthly copayment according to the following schedule:If the household's income is:Then the household's maximum monthly copayment is:Below 25 percent of the state median income$0At or above 25 percent and below 35 percent of the state median income25 percent of the state median income for a household of two, multiplied by five percentAt or above 35 percent and below 45 percent of the state median income35 percent of the state median income for a household of two, multiplied by 5.5 percentAt or above 45 percent and below 55 percent of the state median income45 percent of the state median income for a household of two, multiplied by six percentAt or above 55 percent of the state median income55 percent of the state median income for a household of two, multiplied by 6.5 percent(4) The department may adjust the copayment schedule to comply with federal law.(5) The department must adopt rules to implement this section.(6) This section does not apply to households eligible for the working connections child care program under RCW 43.216.808 and 43.216.814.[ 2025 c 412 s 6; 2024 c 67 s 3.]Notes:Application—2025 c 412: "(1) In accordance with RCW 43.216.800, authorizations for a working connections child care subsidy are effective for 12 months and any changes related to eligibility in this act only apply to new applications and reapplications. The changes related to eligibility in this act do not apply to consumers who were authorized for a working connections child care subsidy before July 1, 2025 until the next reapplication.(2) The changes related to the copayment schedule in section 6, chapter . . . (ESSB 5752), Laws of 2025 only apply to new applications and reapplications for a working connections child care subsidy. Consumers authorized for a working connections child care subsidy as of October 1, 2026, must not have their copayments adjusted by the schedule in section 6(3), chapter . . . (ESSB 5752), Laws of 2025 until reapplication.(3) This section expires December 31, 2027." [ 2025 c 412 s 7.]Conflict with federal requirements—Effective date—2025 c 412: See notes following RCW 43.216.556.