This bill aims to provide categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to qualifying child care workers in New Jersey, allowing them access to these services regardless of their family's annual household income. A qualifying child care worker is defined as an educator or staff member employed for at least 20 hours per week by a licensed child care center or registered family child care provider. The bill emphasizes the importance of supporting child care employees by improving their access to child care subsidies, which is expected to enhance their compensation and aid in the recruitment and retention of staff in the child care sector.

To implement this initiative, the Commissioner of Human Services is tasked with establishing a verification process to confirm that qualifying child care workers meet the employment criteria necessary to access the benefits. 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 was supported by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.