CO SB236

Creates five new grant programs administered by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood to expand child care capacity and improve workforce quality.

Establishes employer-based child care facility grants (up to $200,000 per award) to help businesses construct or renovate on-site child care centers, with for-profit employers providing 50% match and nonprofits/government providing 25% match.

Creates early care and education recruitment and retention grants and scholarships to increase qualified early childhood educators through scholarships, professional development, wage increases, and apprenticeship programs.

Establishes child care teacher salary grants for licensed child care centers and family homes serving low-income families through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program.

Appropriates $8.8 million for fiscal year 2020-21 and $320.2 million for fiscal year 2021-22 in general and federal child care development funds to support all grant programs and associated administration.