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 introduction of a presumptive eligibility pilot program that allows applicants meeting specific criteria to receive scholarship funds while their applications are processed, and the elimination of the requirement for providers to report hourly attendance for scholarship payments. The bill aims to streamline data entry and implement a system of prospective payments to providers by December 2025, with the Department required to evaluate the application process and propose improvements by November 2026. Additionally, the bill repeals the existing RSA 167:83, II(t) related to the presumptive eligibility pilot program, effective May 2, 2028, while other provisions will take effect on July 1, 2025. The anticipated fiscal impact includes an estimated expenditure of $371,600 in FY 2026 for implementing these changes, with no new funding or positions authorized. The Department expects that the changes will not expand overall eligibility but will streamline the process, potentially leading to an indeterminable increase in the number of individuals qualifying for child care scholarships. An objective analysis of the application process will be conducted by an outside firm, with costs expected to be under $200,000, and training for district office staff will be incorporated into regular sessions without incurring additional costs.

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