Bill > HF2732

This bill establishes the Rural Child Care Stabilization and Support Payments program to provide financial support to child care providers in small rural communities. The program will offer payments to eligible child care programs located in cities or towns with 2,500 or fewer residents, including family day care homes, child care centers, Tribally licensed programs, and other specified providers. To receive payments, programs must complete an application, submit enrollment data, and attest to being open and operational during the funding period. Payments will be calculated based on the number of full-time equivalent staff, with additional increases for providers serving high-need areas or receiving certain types of public assistance. Providers can use the funds for various purposes such as paying rent, purchasing equipment, providing staff training, increasing employee compensation, and covering facility-related expenses. The program includes strict record-keeping requirements and enforcement mechanisms, including potential penalties for non-compliance. Legal non-licensed child care providers can also apply for up to $500 in startup costs. The commissioner of children, youth, and families is required to submit an annual report on the program's outcomes, and the bill includes an appropriation to fund the program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Education

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2732&ssn=0&y=2025