Bill > HB360

This bill establishes the Child Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Support Payment Program, which aims to address persistent challenges in the child care industry by providing financial support to eligible child care facilities. The program, to be administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, will distribute $59.9 million annually (for fiscal years 2025 and 2026) to licensed day-care centers, registered group day-care homes, and registered family day-care homes. Funds will be allocated monthly based on the number of full-time and part-time child care workers employed, with specific guidelines for how the money can be used. For day-care centers and group day-care homes, funds can only be spent on personnel costs, including wage supplements, benefits, signing bonuses, and longevity bonuses. Family day-care homes have more flexible spending options, which include personnel costs, facility expenses, equipment, professional development, and mental health support. To be eligible, child care workers must be listed on the early childhood project workforce registry. The bill recognizes the critical role of child care in supporting workforce participation and aims to address low wages that have historically hampered recruitment and retention in the child care sector. The program is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, with the legislature intending the appropriation to be considered part of the ongoing base budget for future sessions.

Health and Social Services

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1775