The "Best Practices: Enhance Early Education and Care Benefits" bill mandates the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) to conduct a comprehensive study on employer best practices regarding early education and care benefits. This study will include recommendations for promoting employer incentives, exploring state partnerships with the business community, and assessing the feasibility of requiring certain employers to provide these benefits. The bill underscores the significance of affordable child care in supporting workforce participation, particularly for working parents, and highlights the economic burden of inadequate child care options, which costs Massachusetts an estimated $2.7 billion annually.

Additionally, the bill establishes a pilot program funded by a $2.5 million budget line item in the FY25 Budget, aimed at incentivizing employers to adopt family-friendly policies and improve access to high-quality child care. This program will explore innovative solutions, such as partnerships with local child care centers and the construction of onsite facilities for low-wage employees, to enhance early education capacity and affordability. The Healey-Driscoll administration will provide monetary grants and research support to document findings and facilitate collaboration among grantees, ultimately aiming for positive economic outcomes and sustainable improvements in the early education and child care sector.