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 and provide financial assistance to early care and education providers. Eligibility is restricted to families with children under thirteen who are employed and not receiving other child care financial aid, with the stipulation that child care costs should not exceed seven percent of their annual household income. The bill also creates the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund Advisory Commission to oversee the program, which will authorize grants for providers and employees, as well as funding for capital improvements and the development of the enrollment portal.

Additionally, the legislation introduces a payroll tax of one and a half percent on employers with more than 200 employees, effective January 1, 2026, with the collected funds directed to the Early Childhood Care and Education Fund. The bill also establishes a salary enhancement grant program for early childhood care and education programs, defining key terms and outlining the calculation of salary enhancements based on base salary and a benefits amount of $7,500. It repeals and replaces Section 10-531 of the general statutes, updating definitions and requirements for early childhood education programs, including a new definition of "employee" and the development of a compensation schedule for early childhood educators. The Office of Early Childhood is tasked with submitting a proposed compensation schedule to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026.

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