Senate Bill 322 aims to enhance child care support in Wisconsin by establishing a new program under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that will provide monthly payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and school board-contracted child care programs. This program is intended to supplement the existing Wisconsin Shares system, which offers child care subsidies to low-income custodial parents. The bill mandates DCF to create rules for the program, including eligibility criteria and payment usage guidelines, and allows for the promulgation of these rules as emergency measures. Funding for the program will come from a new appropriation and federal resources, including child care development funds.

Additionally, the bill repeals certain provisions related to the modification of payment rates for child care providers based on their ratings in the YoungStar quality rating system. Specifically, it repeals sections 49.155 (1g) (i) and 49.155 (6) (e) 2., 3., and 5., while amending section 49.175 (1) (qm) to reflect the new funding amounts for child care quality improvement activities. The new appropriation for these activities is set at $49,446,300 for each fiscal year, significantly increasing the funding compared to previous years. Overall, the bill seeks to improve child care quality and accessibility in Wisconsin through enhanced financial support and streamlined regulations.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 49.155(1g)(i), 49.155, 49.175(1)(qm), 49.175