(1) payment for reserved accommodations must be the same throughout each social services district;

(2) payment may not exceed $250 per month;

(3) a reservation fee may not be given to providers who will provide respite care and services in the foster child's current foster family home;

(4) payments may not be made for more than three consecutive months without a placement in such home; and

(5) any reserved bed accommodations for respite care and services must not cause reserved accommodations to exceed five percent of the certified foster family boarding home beds in any social services district.

(1) Payment made by a social services district to individual providers approved pursuant to section 435.6 of this Part or to foster family boarding homes approved to provide respite care and services for families as mandated preventive services are to be made pursuant to a purchase of service contract or letter of intent between the social services district and the approved provider(s) or a purchase of service contract between the social services district and the voluntary authorized agency or preventive services agency supervising the approved provider(s). Such contract or letter of intent must conform to the provisions of Parts 405 and 423 of this Title; provided, however, that the provisions of section 405.1(a) of this Title limiting such contracts to local public agencies, private non-profit agencies or organizations, and private proprietary agencies are not applicable to providers of respite care and services for families. Rates of payment under such contracts or letters of intent may be negotiated by the social services district with the individual providers or foster family boarding homes but must be uniform throughout the district.

(2) Payments made by a social services district to agency boarding homes, group homes, group residences or institutions for respite care and services for families when provided in accordance with this Part must be set by a purchase of services agreement for such services and must not exceed the rates contained in the social services district's agreement with such providers for the provision of foster care services.

(3) Payments made by a social services district to family home providers or programs approved by the Office of Mental Health or the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and approved by the social services district for respite care and services for families provided in accordance with this Part must be set by a purchase of services contract or letter of intent between the social services district and such agency, provider or program in accordance with Part 405 of this Title.

(4) The provisions of this section apply to respite care and services for families that are provided for less than 24 hours, including the requirements that payments for such services must not exceed the equivalent of an applicable per diem rate for foster care services and that such payment rates must be uniform throughout the district.