The implementation of SB144 is expected to bring significant changes to how child care providers in New Hampshire are compensated. The transition from an attendance-based payment structure to an enrollment-based reimbursement model is aimed at reducing disparities faced by families qualifying for scholarships. Furthermore, this bill is aligned with federal funding provisions which mandate a certain percentage of funds be allocated to direct payments for child care. It estimates an expenditure of approximately 17.8 million dollars over the relevant fiscal years, focusing on long-term sustainability and quality assurances for child care services.
Summary
Senate Bill 144-FN establishes a pilot program for child care scholarships aimed at providing enrollment-based reimbursement to child care providers in New Hampshire. The intent of the bill is to facilitate access to quality and reliable child care for all New Hampshire families, particularly in the wake of challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. The program is designed to incentivize providers to accept these scholarships regardless of attendance rates, thus creating a more stable environment for families relying on child care services. The effectiveness of this change is anticipated to enhance the child care system's robustness, allowing parents to participate more readily in the workforce.
Contention
Some notable points of contention surrounding SB144 concern its funding and the shift in reimbursement structure. Critics may highlight concerns regarding the fiscal responsibility of implementing such programs, especially in light of dependency on federal funds. The impact of this pilot program will be closely monitored, with a report due by September of the following year to assess its viability compared to the previous model. This report will review key metrics such as provider participation and absenteeism rates to determine whether the enrollment-based approach effectively improves overall service delivery.
Directing the department of health and human services to develop a plan relative to fostering sustainable childcare opportunities for working families and businesses.
To create the Alabama Fits All Scholarship Program; require the State Board of Education to contract with a program manager to administer the program; to authorize the program manager to establish scholarship accounts on behalf of eligible students; to prohibit a program manager from accepting scholarship funds in certain circumstances; to require fiscal safeguards and accountability measures; to require eligible schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; to authorize the program manager to distribute scholarship funds; to require the State Board of Education to provide limited oversight of the program manager, including an appeal process for the program manager's administrative decisions; to prohibit certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers; to require criminal history background information checks for employees and officers of a program manager; to provide for program funding; and to require the program manager and the board to submit reports on the program to the Legislature.