OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-6558
AN ACT CONCERNING ISSUES RELATING TO THE PROVISION
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SERVICES IN
CONNECTICUT.
As Amended by House "A" (LCO 9463)
House Calendar No.: 465
Primary Analyst: ES 5/28/21
Contributing Analyst(s):
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact: See Below
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill results in a cost to the Office of Early Childhood (OEC)
associated with expanding eligibility for the Care4kids program to
parents and caretakers participating in various higher education, job
training, and adult education programs. The bill also specifies those
qualifying under these provisions can participate in a program
provided at a state-contracted child care center. The extent of the cost
depends on the number of qualifying participants and subsidy amount
paid under the program. The bill specifies that individuals are only
eligible under the expansion if certain federal funds are designated for
such benefits, and therefore does not require the expenditure of state
funds.
The bill also allows the OEC to issue a family child care home
license to provide care in a space outside a private family home from
FY 22 through FY 26. The bill limits the issuance of the license to one
facility per city in New Britain, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford,
Hartford, Danbury or Waterbury. This is not anticipated to result in a
fiscal impact as it does not expand eligibility for state-subsidized 2021HB-06558-R010774-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
childcare, and OEC has the expertise necessary to meet related
licensing requirements.
The bill establishes a task force to analyze and make
recommendations on issues related to early childhood workforce
development needs in the state, which is not anticipated to result in a
fiscal impact. The task force must report and terminate by January 1,
2023.
House "A" expands Care4Kids eligibility pending the designation of
federal funds to support such benefits. The amendment makes other
technical and conforming changes that have no fiscal impact.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the designation of federal funds.