1 This bill establishes the Maine Child Care Scholarship Program within the Department of Health and Human Services to encompass the former child care subsidy program and new eligibility for child care providers. The bill directs the department to amend its procedures regarding eligibility and reimbursement, submit an annual report relating to child care subsidies to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and to implement various departmental improvements to the child care subsidy program. The bill establishes the Child Care Task Force to make recommendations to the department regarding quality child care. The bill provides funding to increase eligibility and wages for child care services and to implement the improvements to child care subsidies. The bill also directs the department, by 2030, to implement a program to achieve affordable child care.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1726, SP 690: 22.3736