This bill directs the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services to create administrative rules regarding payments for child care providers, establish a child care scholarship presumptive eligibility pilot program, and conduct a study on the scholarship application process. Key changes include the elimination of the requirement for providers to report hourly attendance for scholarship payments, which aims to streamline data entry and facilitate a system of prospective payments to providers by December 2025. The bill also introduces a presumptive eligibility pilot program that allows applicants meeting specific screening criteria to receive scholarship funds while their applications are processed, with defined timelines and conditions for this eligibility.

Additionally, the bill mandates an evaluation of the child care scholarship application process by November 2026 to identify potential improvements and reduce burdens on applicants. It includes provisions for training district office staff on the new scholarship program changes. Notably, the existing legal language in RSA 167:83, II(t) related to the presumptive eligibility pilot program will be repealed effective May 2, 2028. The bill does not allocate new funding or positions but anticipates expenditures of $371,600 for system modifications and an external study, with no additional funding required for staff training as it will be integrated into regular training schedules.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 167:83
As Amended by the Senate: 167:83