NC H1034

Department of Health and Human Services shall use a portion of Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to temporarily increase child care subsidy reimbursement rates to levels recommended in the 2018 Child Care Market Rate Study.

Rate increases apply to all age groups of children enrolled in three-, four-, and five-star rated child care centers and homes.

Allocation of $206,000,000 to $215,000,000 must prioritize reducing the waitlist for children eligible for subsidized child care in foster care, then work toward reducing the general subsidized child care waitlist.

The bill becomes effective July 1, 2022.