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 challenges and propose improvements, along with training for district office staff on the new scholarship program changes. It 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 estimated cost for implementing these changes is $371,600, with no new funding or positions authorized. The bill aims to enhance access to child care scholarships for eligible families without expanding the overall eligibility pool.

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