S.B. 239 Summary

• Establishes a Child Care Accreditation Program within the Department of Human Services' Child Care Subsidy Program Office to support licensed and registered child care providers in obtaining accreditation from national early learning accrediting organizations or director-approved organizations.

• Extends deadlines for unaccredited Preschool Open Doors Program service providers to commence accreditation by July 1, 2029 (instead of July 1, 2024) and obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034 (instead of July 1, 2029).

• Authorizes grants to eligible child care providers to cover technical assistance costs and expenses for furniture, equipment, and minor facility renovations required for accreditation.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to establish and administer the program, including funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to submit annual reports to the legislature on program implementation, including the number of applicants, expense categories, and the percentage of providers who have commenced accreditation or are currently accredited.