AUTO SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY/CHILDCARE TCHR/PILOT.

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View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 483 (Public) Filed Monday, March 27, 2023
AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALLOW A CHILD CARE TEACHER EMPLOYED FULL TIME BY A LICENSED CHILD CARE PROGRAM IN THE STATE TO BE DEEMED AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR CHILD CARE SUBSIDY FOR THE TEACHER'S PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN.
Intro. by Willis, K. Baker, Bradford, Loftis.

Status: Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action) (Mar 28 2023)
H 483

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 27 2023 - View Summary

    Appropriates $10 million for each year of the 2023-25 fiscal biennium from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), for a pilot program that gives automatic eligibility for child care subsidies for the preschool-age children (8 weeks to 5 years old) of all full-time (defined as a minimum of 35 hours per week) child care teachers employed by a licensed child care program in this State. Requires the teacher to have completed, be in the process of completing, or enroll at the first available semester in an Introduction to Early Childhood class at any NC local community college in this State. Requires a child care teacher who does not have an Early Childhood Education Infant/Toddler Certificate or Child Development Certificate to commit to remaining in college and completing either certificate within 18 months. Requires classes taken under this act to be free to the teacher, paid for by the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood North Carolina Scholarship Program. 

    Requires the pilot to be implemented within 120 days from when the act becomes effective. Requires the Division to select counties from across the State to participate, with a focus on counties with the highest percentage of child care capacity lost during the past 10 years. Sets out guidance for determining the amount of the subsidy. Prohibits child care centers from charging copayments or any other fees in addition to the subsidy amount. Requires county agencies to use existing child care subsidy funding before applying for additional funding.

    Requires the Division to submit an initial report to the  specified NCGA committee and division by March 31, 2024, and quarterly reports thereafter. Specifies the content of the reports.

    Effective July 1, 2023.