This bill mandates the Department of Social Services to amend existing administrative rules to allow graduate students to qualify for child care assistance. The amendments must be filed by September 30, 2025, and include changes to the time requirements for work and education. Specifically, the bill stipulates that recipients must be employed for a minimum of eighty hours per month and receive a salary equivalent to the federal minimum wage. Additionally, if recipients are attending school, they must also meet the same minimum of eighty hours per month, which can include various forms of educational engagement such as classes, work study, and internships. The bill also clarifies that graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of twelve semester credit hours or six if pursuing a degree beyond a bachelor's degree.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the list of individuals ineligible for child care assistance. It removes the restriction that individuals in educational programs beyond a bachelor's degree are ineligible, thereby allowing graduate students to access assistance. The bill also specifies that individuals performing volunteer services or caring for their own children remain ineligible, while those providing family child care for their own children at another facility are also excluded from receiving assistance. These changes aim to enhance support for graduate students who are balancing education and parenting responsibilities.