Substitute House Bill No. 5002, known as Public Act No. 24-91, introduces significant changes to early childhood care and education in the state. The bill repeals and replaces Section 10-511 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, establishing the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund as a separate entity from the Comptroller's oversight. This fund will manage various types of contributions and is not considered state property. The bill also creates the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission within the Legislative Department, which will oversee the fund's financial health, develop a five-year expenditure plan, and make legislative recommendations. Additionally, the bill introduces the Tri-Share Child Care Matching Program in New London County, where child care costs are divided equally between employers, employees, and the state, and outlines the administration and reporting requirements for this program.

The bill also proposes a wage supplement payment program, providing a one-time payment to eligible early childhood teachers and teacher assistants, with specific provisions to ensure these payments do not affect eligibility for public assistance programs. It amends the law to include the Commissioner of Early Childhood in decisions about the use of state land for early childhood programs and requires the distribution of a document explaining the benefits and consequences of liability insurance for child care providers. Furthermore, the bill mandates child care centers to post developmental milestones for children and excludes centers serving school-age children only. It expands the child care subsidy program's eligibility, introduces a protective service class for at-risk populations, and requires changes to the program to be posted on the Office of Early Childhood's website 30 days prior to taking effect. The bill also streamlines the legal framework for the child care subsidy program by repealing certain regulations and directing the commissioner to implement provisions of 45 CFR 98.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 24-91: 10-514