The bill amends the Human Services Code to establish a pilot salary supplement program for infant and toddler care professionals working in child-care centers. The program aims to create pay parity across different age groups to retain employees who work with children under four years of age, addressing the issue of wage disparities that may lead to staff turnover. The Department of Public Welfare is tasked with implementing and administering this program, which includes setting standards for salary supplements based on county-level parity and employee qualifications. The department is required to issue salary supplements by September 30 of each fiscal year, starting with the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which child-care centers can receive these funds, emphasizing that the money must be used solely to supplement wages and not to reduce existing payroll costs. The department will monitor the program's effectiveness by reviewing personnel records and tracking employee retention and advancement. The program is set to expire after three fiscal years, and the department must provide annual appropriation estimates to the General Assembly to cover the costs of the salary supplements. The bill also mandates the adoption of necessary regulations to implement the program effectively.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 802 (Mar 03, 2025): P.L.31, No.21
Printer's No. 0802: P.L.31, No.21