The proposed bill aims to establish the Child Care Subsidy Pilot Program in West Virginia, which is 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 until December 31, 2028, and will require the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Joint Committee on Health, detailing participation numbers, subsidy amounts, worker retention data, and participant feedback by May 1, 2027. A comprehensive evaluation of the program's successes and challenges will also be conducted at the end of the pilot period, 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 donations. The Secretary is tasked with implementing the program, including accepting applications starting January 1, 2026, and ensuring full operational status by May 1, 2026. The bill outlines specific definitions related to the program, such as "child care worker," "eligible child care worker," and "subsidy," to clarify the scope and intent of the initiative.

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