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Bill > SB322


WI SB322

A Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)


summary

Introduced
06/12/2025
In Committee
06/12/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill authorizes the Department of Children and Families to establish a program for making monthly payments and monthly per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and child care programs established or contracted for by a school board. This new payment program is in addition to the current law system for providing child care payments under Wisconsin Shares. The bill requires DCF to promulgate rules to implement the program, including establishing eligibility requirements and payment amounts and setting requirements for how recipients may use the payments, and authorizes DCF to promulgate these rules as emergency rules. The bill funds the program through a new appropriation and by allocating federal moneys, including child care development funds and moneys received under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program. LRB-3324/1 EHS:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 322 The bill eliminates the current law method by which DCF may modify maximum payment rates for child care providers under Wisconsin Shares based on a child care provider[s rating under the quality rating system known as YoungStar. Wisconsin Shares is a part of the Wisconsin Works program under current law, which DCF administers and which provides work experience and benefits for low-income custodial parents who are at least 18 years old. Under current law, an individual who is the parent of a child under the age of 13 or, if the child is disabled, under the age of 19, who needs child care services to participate in various education or work activities, and who satisfies other eligibility criteria may receive a child care subsidy for child care services under Wisconsin Shares. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a new Child Care Quality Improvement Program administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), which will provide monthly payments and per-child payments to certified child care providers, licensed child care centers, and school board-established child care programs. The program is additional to the existing Wisconsin Shares child care payment system and will be funded through a new appropriation and federal funds, including child care development funds and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant money. The bill requires DCF to create rules defining program eligibility, payment amounts, and how recipients can use the payments, and allows the department to use emergency rulemaking procedures to quickly implement these guidelines. The legislation also eliminates the current method of modifying payment rates based on a provider's YoungStar quality rating and increases the allocation for quality care activities from $16,683,700 to $49,446,300 in fiscal year 2022-23. The bill gives DCF the authority to investigate and recover any overpaid or fraudulently obtained funds, and the emergency rules established can remain in effect until July 1, 2027, or until permanent rules are implemented, whichever occurs first.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (59)

Tim Carpenter (D)* Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (D)* Dora Drake (D)* Jodi Habush Sinykin (D)* Dianne Hesselbein (D)* LaTonya Johnson (D)* Sarah Keyeski (D)* Chris Larson (D)* Brad Pfaff (D)* Melissa Ratcliff (D)* Kelda Roys (D)* Jeff Smith (D)* Mark Spreitzer (D)* Jamie Wall (D)* Bob Wirch (D)* Clint Anderson (D),  Deb Andraca (D),  Margaret Arney (D),  Mike Bare (D),  Jill Billings (D),  Brienne Brown (D),  Ryan Clancy (D),  Angelina Cruz (D),  Karen DeSanto (D),  Ben DeSmidt (D),  Steve Doyle (D),  Jodene Emerson (D),  Joan Fitzgerald (D),  Russell Goodwin (D),  Kalan Haywood (D),  Francesca Hong (D),  Andrew Hysell (D),  Jenna Jacobson (D),  Alex Joers (D),  Tara Johnson (D),  Karen Kirsch (D),  Darrin Madison (D),  Renuka Mayadev (D),  Maureen McCarville (D),  Tip McGuire (D),  Vincent Miresse (D),  Supreme Moore Omokunde (D),  Greta Neubauer (D),  Lori Palmeri (D),  Christian Phelps (D),  Pricilla Prado (D),  Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D),  Ann Roe (D),  Joe Sheehan (D),  Christine Sinicki (D),  Lee Snodgrass (D),  Ryan Spaude (D),  Angela Stroud (D),  Shelia Stubbs (D),  Lisa Subeck (D),  Sequanna Taylor (D),  Angelito Tenorio (D),  Randy Udell (D),  Robyn Vining (D), 

Last Action

Read first time and referred to Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, State and Federal Affairs (on 06/12/2025)

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