Assembly Bill 710 amends existing statutes related to the Wisconsin Shares program, which provides child care subsidies for low-income custodial parents. The bill expands the definition of eligible child care providers to include those operating in Indian country under the authority of federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands in Wisconsin. Specifically, it allows Wisconsin Shares payments to be made to these tribal-regulated providers, provided they enter into an agreement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and attest that they meet the necessary requirements for receiving federal child care and development funds.

The bill makes several key changes to the legal language. It deletes the previous definition of a child care provider and replaces it with a broader definition that includes tribal providers. Additionally, it specifies that eligible individuals can choose child care from a variety of licensed and certified providers, including those that meet the new criteria established under the bill. This legislative change aims to enhance access to child care subsidies for families utilizing tribal-regulated services, thereby supporting the needs of low-income custodial parents in Wisconsin.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 49.155(1)(ag), 49.155, 49.155(4)(a)