House Bill No. [insert bill number] establishes the Child Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Support Payment Program, aimed at addressing the challenges of recruitment and retention in Montana's child care sector. The program, administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, will provide financial support to eligible child-care facilities, including licensed day-care centers and registered family day-care homes. The funds can be used for various personnel costs, such as supplementing wages, providing signing and longevity bonuses, and covering benefits for child-care workers.

The bill outlines specific eligible uses for the funds, including professional development and mental health support for children in care at family day-care homes. It also mandates the distribution of support payments on a monthly basis, proportional to the number of child-care workers employed at each facility. The bill appropriates $59.9 million from the general fund for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, with the intention that this funding becomes part of the ongoing budget for future legislative sessions. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.