The bill amends the Human Services Code of Pennsylvania to establish a new Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program. This program aims to provide annual lump-sum retention and recruitment payments to qualified child care providers, contingent on available funding. The bill introduces definitions for key terms such as "qualified child care provider," "qualified staff member," and "newly hired qualified staff member," which clarify the eligibility criteria for participation in the program. The program will allocate funds for retention bonuses of up to $1,000 per qualified staff member and recruitment bonuses for newly hired staff, with specific conditions on how these funds can be used.

Additionally, the bill outlines the application process for child care providers, requiring them to apply for funding within 45 days of the application being posted by the department. The department is tasked with approving or denying applications within 45 days and ensuring that payments are used solely for the intended purposes. The bill also includes provisions for monitoring compliance, recovery of funds if conditions are not met, and mandates annual reporting to legislative committees on the program's implementation and outcomes. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 949 (Jun 18, 2025): P.L.31, No.21