Child Care Pilot Program Amendments

HB 525 creates the Child Care Center Employee Subsidy Pilot Program, which provides subsidies to licensed child care centers to reduce tuition costs for their own employees' children. It directly affects licensed child care centers (eligible employers) and their staff (eligible employees) who enroll children at the center but don't qualify for standard income-based subsidies. The program allows centers to receive up to 50% of average monthly tuition costs for each eligible employee's child, funded by a $3 million appropriation from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027. Funds in the new restricted account are designated as nonlapsing, ensuring they remain available for the program's duration. The bill amends existing child care subsidy laws to establish this targeted support, preventing duplicate benefits for the same child under other subsidy programs.