HI HB547

Establishes a two-year infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program administered by the Department of Human Services to increase pay for child care workers in licensed infant and toddler centers to at least $16.00 per hour.

Licensed infant and toddler child care centers may apply for subsidies; applicants must provide worker names, current licensing status, citizenship/residency proof, and authorization for department access to records.

Excludes from the program nonpublic K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, pre-kindergarten services identified as educational, the Department of Education, charter schools, and federally funded Early Head Start programs.

Requires the department to submit interim reports to the legislature prior to the 2024 and 2025 regular sessions and a final report prior to the 2026 regular session on program development, implementation impacts, and any proposed legislation.

Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025; pilot program sunsets July 1, 2025, with effective date of July 1, 2050.