The proposed bill aims to establish a new section in the North Dakota Century Code that creates a child care workforce recruitment and retention program. This program is designed to address the ongoing shortages in the child care workforce by providing financial incentives to licensed early childhood services providers. Specifically, the bill mandates the Department to issue monthly incentive payments based on the number of children enrolled in the program, with set amounts for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children. Providers must report their average enrollment quarterly, and payments may be suspended if enrollment drops significantly.

Additionally, to qualify for these incentive payments, providers must not have received a corrective action order in the preceding three months. The bill also requires that each provider receiving payments submit an annual report detailing how the funds were utilized to improve salaries and benefits for child care workers. This initiative aims to enhance the stability and quality of child care services in North Dakota by supporting the workforce that provides these essential services.