Bill > SB565

This bill creates a new Montana Early Childhood Account Board and Endowment designed to support early childhood education and care services across the state. The board will consist of seven members appointed by the governor, representing various state departments and community early childhood organizations, with three-year terms. The bill establishes a permanent endowment fund that will generate quarterly interest to support early childhood programs, initially funded by a $150 million transfer from the state's general fund. The endowment can also receive gifts, grants, and fees from child-care facility license renewals. The board will use these funds to provide grants for a wide range of early childhood initiatives, including workforce development for child-care providers, quality improvement programs, affordability initiatives, innovation programs, and emergency assistance for child-care facilities. The board is required to determine funding priorities, establish grant criteria, monitor fund expenditures, and provide annual reports to legislative committees. Additionally, the bill introduces a $25 fee for renewing lapsed child-care facility licenses, with those fees being deposited into the newly created state special revenue account. The legislation aims to create a sustainable funding mechanism to support and improve early childhood education and care services in Montana.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1092