The proposed bill establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program in West Virginia, aimed at supporting families by incentivizing employers to contribute to their employees' child care costs. It outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Human Services in administering the program, including the creation of standardized contracts among employers, employees, and child-care centers. The bill also establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program Fund, which will provide state matches to employers based on their contributions towards eligible child care costs, with specific guidelines for calculating these matches based on household income levels. The program is set to begin administration by July 1, 2025, with contracts from employers accepted starting April 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for contract management, requiring employers to notify the department of contributions to avoid reimbursement for unnecessary state matches. Child-care centers must also inform the department of any contribution issues within five business days, which could lead to a temporary halt in state match funding. The bill allows for contract termination by any party with a two-week notice and outlines circumstances for termination, such as nonpayment by employees. Furthermore, it authorizes collaboration between the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Human Services to integrate this program into economic development agreements with participating employers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-12-101, 49-12-102, 49-12-103, 49-12-104, 49-12-105, 49-12-106, 49-12-107, 49-12-108