SB 237 (2023)

This bill modifies criteria for the child care scholarship program, which provides funding for low income families to pay for child care. Generally speaking this bill would increase eligibility and reduce cost-sharing for families. This bill also establishes a Child Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Program, which would fund bonuses and benefit grants for eligible child care programs. This bill also establishes a Regional Fingerprinting Support Program Workforce Fund to support child care workers waiting for background checks. The Senate passed and then tabled this bill, which often indicates support to include this spending item in the state budget bill.