The bill enacts the "Rhode Island Early Care and Education Workforce Data Act," which aims to establish a statewide early care and education workforce registry data system. The General Assembly finds that front-line educators in licensed child care and early learning programs are crucial to the state's education system and that consistent data is needed to support their professional development and inform policy decisions. The bill notes that in 2022, $1,000,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act was allocated to create this registry, and as of 2023, Rhode Island was one of only eight states without such a registry.

The bill mandates that by July 1, 2025, the Department of Human Services must implement an early care and education workforce registry in accordance with the guidelines of the National Workforce Registry Alliance. This registry will include information about staff in all licensed child care and early learning centers and family child care homes in Rhode Island. It will support communication and professional development for educators and help the state gather information on demographics, qualifications, and turnover. Additionally, starting January 1, 2026, the Department of Human Services is required to produce an annual report on the registry's status and the workforce's characteristics, which will be shared with various stakeholders and made available to the public. The act will take effect upon passage.