The proposed bill aims to establish the Child Care Subsidy Pilot Program in West Virginia, designed to provide financial assistance to child care workers to enhance their financial stability and retention while ensuring high-quality care for children. The program will run from its inception until December 31, 2028, with the Secretary of the Department of Human Services required to submit progress reports to the Joint Committee on Health by May 1, 2027, detailing participation numbers, subsidy amounts, worker retention data, and participant feedback. A comprehensive evaluation report will follow at the end of the pilot period, assessing the program's successes and challenges, along with recommendations for its future.

The bill includes provisions for rulemaking, defining eligibility criteria for child care workers, and establishing the funding sources for the program, which may include legislative appropriations, federal grants, and private contributions. The Secretary is tasked with implementing the program, including accepting applications starting January 1, 2026, and ensuring full operational status by May 1, 2026. Definitions for key terms such as "child care worker," "eligible child care worker," and "subsidy" are also provided to clarify the scope and intent of the program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-1101, 49-2-1102, 49-2-1103, 49-2-1104, 49-2-1105, 49-2-1106