This bill aims to provide categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to qualifying child care workers, defined as educators or staff members employed for at least 20 hours per week by licensed child care centers or registered family child care providers. Notably, the bill stipulates that these workers will be eligible for child care services through the state's subsidized child care assistance program without regard to their family's annual household income. This provision is intended to enhance the compensation levels for child care employees and improve recruitment and retention within the sector.

To implement this initiative, the Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with establishing a verification process to confirm the employment status of qualifying child care workers. Additionally, the commissioner is required to seek any necessary state plan amendments or waivers to maintain federal funding for subsidized child care services under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. The bill is inspired by a similar policy enacted in Kentucky in 2022, which received support from the American Rescue Plan Act.