HB238 - Child Care Provider Subsidy and Bonus Program

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a child care provider subsidy and bonus program to increase compensation for child care workers and support family child care homes.

• Provides subsidies to infant and toddler child care centers, group child care centers, and group child care homes to increase child care worker pay to a minimum rate (amount not specified in bill); provides annual bonuses to registered family child care homes (amount not specified in bill).

• Requires applicants to submit detailed applications including worker names, subsidy/bonus amounts, proof of current child care provision, compliance with laws, and authorization for department access to records.

• Excludes private K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, pre-K programs identified as educational services, the Department of Education, public charter schools, and the University of Hawaii from receiving subsidies or bonuses.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund the program and hire program specialist staff; requires annual reports to the Legislature.