HB 504 Summary

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a two-year preschool child care worker subsidy pilot program within six months to retain early childhood workforce in licensed facilities serving children aged two through five.

• Subsidizes wages for eligible lead caregivers, caregivers, and child care aides to ensure minimum hourly pay of $19.00 per hour using the child care grant program special fund.

• Limits participation to workers not employed by the Department of Education, public charter schools, or federally funded Early Head Start programs, and excludes private educational institutions.

• Requires annual reports to the legislature in 2024 and 2025, with a final report in 2026; pilot program sunsets on June 30, 2026.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to fund the pilot program (specific dollar amounts blank in bill text).