The bill, Substitute Senate Bill No. 1121, concerns the rights of family child care providers under the Care 4 Kids program and other state-administered early education or child care programs. It amends the general statutes by redefining "family child care providers" to include those who provide child care services under any state-administered early education or child care program, not just the Care 4 Kids program. This expansion allows family child care providers to collectively bargain with the state over various issues, including state reimbursement rates, benefits, payment procedures, contract grievance arbitration, and training and professional development opportunities. The bill also designates the Office of Early Childhood as an executive branch employer for collective bargaining purposes and extends the collective bargaining and arbitration process to providers paid by other state-administered early education or child care programs.

The fiscal impact of the bill is not clearly defined but could potentially lead to a significant increase in state costs, depending on the collective bargaining agreement and the applicable programs. The bill does not specify which programs are included under "state-administered early education or child care programs," but it may encompass programs such as School Readiness, child day care contracts, and state-funded Head Start programs. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2023, and includes technical and conforming changes to align with conventional drafting standards. The Labor and Public Employees Committee has reported favorably on the bill.