NC S830

Appropriates $250,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to establish a two-year child development associate apprenticeship pilot program within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Pilot program will provide participants with on-the-job learning, one-on-one mentorship, and classroom-based technical instruction that may result in college credit to address shortage of qualified early childhood educators.

Requires pilot program implementation in at least two child development centers, with one located in the Piedmont region and one in the Eastern region, with consideration for partnering with the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc.

Reduces parent copayments for subsidized child care from 10% to 5% of gross family income, maintaining blended rate copayments at 83% and part-time copayments at 75% of the full-time copayment.

Requires progress reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by December 31 of each year the pilot is in effect, with a final report due by December 31, 2026; becomes effective July 1, 2024.