PA SB506

Establishes the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program within the Department of Human Services to provide annual lump-sum payments to qualified child care providers for staff bonuses

Authorizes retention bonuses of up to $1,000 per qualified staff member who directly supervises children, with remaining funds allocated for recruitment bonuses of up to $1,000 per newly hired qualified staff member

Eligible providers include department-certified children's institutions, child care centers, and family child care homes that have a child care subsidy agreement and are not under fraud investigation, subject to liens, or operating under provisional licenses

Requires providers to apply within 45 days of application posting, with the department required to approve or deny applications within 45 days; payments must be spent within the fiscal year and cannot supplant existing wages or benefits

Mandates annual reporting to legislative appropriations committees by September 30 each year, beginning in 2026, detailing the number of payments, provider locations by county, and total applications received