AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB447: Delaware Child Care Affordability Initiatives

This law directs the Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) to plan and fund programs that help families access affordable, licensed child care through voluntary cost-sharing partnerships.

What This Bill Does

• Directs the IRMC to coordinate planning, program development, and funding for child care affordability initiatives.
• Establishes voluntary cost-sharing partnerships between the State, employers, community sponsors, and families.
• Requires the IRMC to set rules for eligibility, enrollment, and payments while trying to reduce paperwork for families and providers.
• Allows the IRMC to hire outside companies to handle tasks like checking eligibility or processing money.
• Permits the use of state funds along with federal grants or donations from private groups.

Who It Names or Affects

• Families seeking licensed child care
• Employers and community sponsors participating in cost-sharing partnerships
• The Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC)
• Licensed child care providers

Terms To Know

Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC)

A state group responsible for planning and managing these child care programs.

Cost-sharing partnerships

Voluntary agreements where the State, employers, community sponsors, and families share the cost of licensed child care.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify exact dollar amounts for funding.
• No effective date is listed in the provided text.
• Participation in partnerships is voluntary, so no one is forced to join.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE.
This Act directs the Interagency Resource Management Committee to coordinate planning, program development, and funding related to child care affordability initiatives, including voluntary cost-sharing partnerships between the State, employers, community sponsors, and families. The purpose of such programs is to expand access to affordable, licensed child care and support workforce initiatives.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Minor-Brown & Sen. Pettyjohn & Sen. Lockman & Rep. Kamela Smith

Reps. Heffernan, K. Johnson, Lambert, D. Short, Snyder-Hall, Berry, Harris, Romer; Sens. Pinkney, Richardson, Sokola, Wilson, Hoffner

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 447

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 17, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1703B. Child care affordability initiatives.

(a) The Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) shall coordinate planning, program development, and funding related to child care affordability initiatives, including voluntary cost-sharing partnerships between the State, employers, community sponsors, and families, intended to expand access to licensed child care and support workforce participation.

(b) The IRMC shall establish guidelines, eligibility criteria, enrollment procedures, and payment methodologies for child care cost-sharing initiatives with the goal of minimizing the administrative burden of participation for families and child care providers.

(c) The IRMC may

contract for administration, outreach, eligibility verification, payment processing, technical assistance, or other program functions necessary to implement child care affordability initiatives.

(d) The IRMC may use funds appropriated by the State for this purpose, as well as federal, philanthropic, or other available funds for the implementation of child care affordability initiatives.

SYNOPSIS

This Act directs the Interagency Resource Management Committee to coordinate planning, program development, and funding related to child care affordability initiatives, including voluntary cost-sharing partnerships between the State, employers, community sponsors, and families. The purpose of such programs is to expand access to affordable, licensed child care and support workforce initiatives.