Department of Early Childhood Supplemental

Plain English: This amendment reduces the cash funding for Colorado's Universal Preschool Program by $1 million and adds a rule requiring officials to help counties combine different types of childcare money.

• Lowers the total amount of cash funds available for the Universal Preschool Program from about $213 million to about $212.76 million.
• Adds an official note stating that lawmakers want the Department of Early Childhood to help counties and providers combine funding sources, known as 'fund stacking'.
• Requires the department to focus on giving technical support so families can be enrolled in both preschool programs at once and get billed correctly.

• The amendment was voted down ('Lost') during its second reading, meaning these changes were not approved.
• The text does not explain exactly how the department will provide technical assistance or which specific counties must be helped first.

Plain English: This amendment adds a new note to the bill stating that lawmakers want the Department of Early Childhood to help counties and providers combine funding from two different programs.

• It changes how specific program names are listed on pages 9 and 16 by adding 'PROGRAM9a' next to them.
• It adds a new section called '9a' that explains the goal of coordinating Universal Preschool Program funds with Child Care Assistance Program funds.

• The amendment does not provide any extra money or change how much funding is available, as shown by the zero dollar fiscal impact.
• Because this amendment was marked as 'Lost', it did not pass and will not become part of the final law.