§3740-B. High-quality child care costs estimator tool
The department shall create and maintain an estimator tool in accordance with this section to calculate the actual cost of quality child care.
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
              
                  1. 
                                Considerations. 
                                In developing the costs estimator tool, the department shall consider:
                                     
                                
                
                  A.
                                        Including a living wage compensation scale for early childhood educators;
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                
                  B.
                                        Including employee salaries and benefits;
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                
                  C.
                                        Including facility costs;
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                
                  D.
                                        Including costs associated with compliance with statutory and rule requirements, including the child care quality rating system under section 3737, subsection 3 and specific costs associated with each step of the rating system and any quality indicators used;
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                
                  E.
                                        Differentiating rates by child age and geographic region; and
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                
                  F.
                                        Using data and research from available studies and reports.
                                     
                                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
              
                  2. 
                                Accessibility. 
                                The estimator tool must be publicly accessible.  The department's process for making changes to the tool must be transparent to the public.
                                     
                                
                [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
              
                        SECTION HISTORY
                        
            PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).