Therapeutic Child Care Grant Program - Funding - Alterations

SB 359 modifies Maryland's Therapeutic Child Care Grant Program funding requirements. It mandates that the Governor include $3.7 million annually in the state budget for fiscal years 2023-2025 and 2027 onward (skipping 2026). The bill specifies how these funds must be distributed: $1.283 million to existing providers (matching 2022 allocations), $1.917 million for additional services to existing providers, and $500,000 for new providers or expanding enrollment. The program directly serves children under age 6 with developmental delays, physical disabilities, or behavioral challenges, and supports specialized child care providers administering the grants.