This bill proposes to amend section 46-803 of the Arizona Revised Statutes by eliminating the current requirement for the establishment of waiting lists for child care assistance and the prioritization of assistance based on different eligibility categories. The existing law prioritizes families at or below one hundred percent of the federal poverty level and continues to provide assistance based on successive increases in income up to one hundred sixty-five percent of the federal poverty level. This prioritization system will be removed if the bill becomes law.

In addition, the bill includes a new appropriation of funds from the state general fund for the fiscal year 2025-2026, specifically aimed at covering child care assistance costs. The proposed funding is intended to eliminate the waiting list and ensure that eligible families with incomes up to one hundred sixty-five percent of the federal poverty level receive child care assistance without the previous prioritization constraints.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 46-803