The proposed bill aims to establish the Child Care Workforce Scholarship Act, which will provide categorical eligibility for child care employees under the West Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program. This initiative is designed to address the ongoing shortage of qualified child care workers in the state by offering full subsidy benefits for the children of eligible employees, regardless of household income. To qualify, employees must work at least 20 hours per week in a licensed child care setting and provide necessary documentation of their employment. The bill also outlines that subsidy payments will be made directly to child care providers, ensuring that the benefits do not displace or reduce eligibility for other families under existing laws.

To support the implementation of this program, the bill appropriates $5,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to the Department of Human Services. This funding will be used exclusively for subsidy payments on behalf of child care employees and to supplement federal Child Care and Development Fund dollars. Additionally, the Department is tasked with submitting annual reports to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, detailing the program's impact on workforce retention, child care capacity, and utilization of funds. The bill emphasizes the importance of a stable child care system for economic growth and labor force participation in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-2-815