Bill > SB429

This bill, the Child Care Workforce Scholarship Act, establishes a new eligibility category for child care workers within the West Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program, which is funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). This means that individuals employed at least 20 hours per week by a licensed child care provider in West Virginia will be considered "categorically eligible" for full child care subsidies for their own children, regardless of their household income. The bill aims to address a shortage of qualified child care employees by making child care employment more attractive, reducing turnover, and ultimately increasing the availability of child care spots for all West Virginia families, thereby supporting workforce participation and economic growth. The program will provide full subsidy benefits with no family co-payment for eligible child care employees for a 12-month period, renewable annually, with payments going directly to the child care provider. The bill appropriates $5.2 million for Fiscal Year 2026 to supplement federal funds for these subsidies and directs the Department of Human Services to implement emergency rules and report annually on the program's impact.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=429&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill