This bill amends existing provisions in South Dakota law regarding the child care assistance program, specifically targeting eligibility criteria for certain child care employees. The Department of Social Services is tasked with establishing a program to assist families with child care services and improve the quality of care. The amendments to sections 28-1-60 and 28-1-61 outline the responsibilities of the department and the secretary of social services in administering the program, including eligibility determination, service scope, and compliance monitoring.

A new section is introduced that specifies eligibility for payments from the child care assistance program for applicants who are employed in licensed or registered child care settings. To qualify, applicants must work at least thirty hours per week and have a household income that does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty level. Notably, the bill stipulates that all earned and unearned income of the applicant's household will be excluded from consideration in determining eligibility, thereby providing financial relief to qualifying child care employees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2025: 28-1-60, 28-1-61
House Health and Human Services Engrossed, 02/13/2025: 28-1-60, 28-1-61
House Engrossed, 02/19/2025: 28-1-60, 28-1-61
Enrolled, 03/05/2025: 28-1-60, 28-1-61