Substitute Bill No. 1369 establishes the Workforce Child Care Program and Portal in Connecticut, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. This program is designed to support working families with child care costs, ensuring that such expenses do not exceed seven percent of a family's annual income. Eligibility is restricted to families with children under thirteen who are employed and not receiving other child care subsidies. The bill also creates a payroll tax of one and a half percent for employers with over 200 employees, effective January 1, 2026, with the funds directed to the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. Additionally, a centralized online enrollment portal will be developed to streamline applications for the Workforce Child Care Program and other assistance programs, enhancing accessibility and data management.

The legislation further introduces a salary enhancement grant program for early childhood care and education programs, also effective July 1, 2025. This program, administered by the Office of Early Childhood in collaboration with the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission, will provide annual grants based on calculated salary enhancement amounts for early childhood programs and family child care homes. The bill amends existing legal language by replacing "education program" with "care and education program" and updates eligibility criteria for employees. It mandates the creation of a compensation schedule for early childhood educators, considering education, training, and experience, with a report on this schedule due by January 1, 2021, and amendments to include all early childhood care and education employees by January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-531
KID Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference: 10-531