HB 717-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
1999 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 717-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a child care incentive program for training child care workers, and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Rep. Pilliod, Belk 3; Rep. Norelli, Rock 31; Rep. Wallner, Merr 24; Rep. Seldin, Merr 17; Rep. Durham, Hills 22; Sen. McCarley, Dist 6
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
This bill:
1. Establishes a child care training incentive program, administered by the advisory committee on child care, offering state-funded loans to individuals pursuing college level courses leading to a certificate or associate degree in early childhood education.
2. Permits forgiveness of loans made under the program for individuals who continue to work in a state-regulated child care agency for 2 years following completion of their certificate or degree program.
3. Offers program participants the opportunity to receive financial incentives, upon completion of their coursework, from participating child care employers.
4. Makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for the purposes of this bill.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
99-0246
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine
AN ACT establishing a child care incentive program for training child care workers, and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraphs; Department of Health and Human Services; Advisory Committee on Child Care; Duties Amended. Amend RSA 126-A:17, V by inserting after subparagraph (d) the following new subparagraphs:
(e) Recommending for approval by the commissioner, with the consent of the governor and council, an appropriate private agency to administer the child care training incentive program established in RSA 170-E:50.
(f) Reviewing and making recommendations, every 2 years, regarding the operation of the child care incentive program established in RSA 170-E:50.
2 New Subdivision; Child Care Training Incentive Program. Amend RSA 170-E by inserting after section 49 the following new subdivision:
Child Care Training Incentive Program
170-E:50 Program Established; Purpose. A child care training incentive program is hereby established within the department which shall be administered by a private agency recommended by the advisory committee on child care and under contract with the department. The purpose of the program is to promote a quality child care experience for children by increasing the training of individuals caring for children in state-regulated child care settings and by increasing the stability of the child care workforce.
170-E:51 Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to carry out the purposes of the program including, but not limited to, establishing minimum and maximum annual loan amounts, maximum aggregate loan amounts, relevant loan application deadlines, and the number of program participants permitted annually.
170-E:52 Eligibility.
I. The following individuals shall be eligible for the program:
(a) Any individual, employed in a state-regulated child care setting, including licensed family care and center care agencies, whose employer agrees to award bonus incentives as follows:
(1) $100 bonus to the employee-participant upon receipt of a certificate in early childhood education.
(2) $500 bonus to the employee-participant upon receipt of an associate's degree in child development or a bachelor's degree in early childhood education.
(3) An increase in gross annual compensation of the employee-participant of 5 percent upon receipt of an associate's degree in early childhood education.
(b) Any resident of the state enrolled in an accredited higher education program within the state, including a bachelor, associate, or certificate-level program, pursuing studies leading to a degree or certificate in early childhood education or child development.
170-E:53 Requirements.
I. Eligible individuals shall receive state-funded loans in an amount sufficient to cover the costs of tuition, books, and child care to pursue relevant coursework necessary for participation in the program, within the limits of the program as set forth in the rules of the department.
II. Each loan recipient shall sign a note to the state treasurer for the amount of each loan payment received.
170-E:54 Loans; Program Administration.
I. The advisory committee on child care shall submit annually to the commissioner and to the state treasurer a list of loan recipients and the amount awarded to each. The loans shall be disbursed through the finance office of the institution in which the recipient is enrolled.
II. Financial assistance shall be limited to 100 participants per year for the first 2 years of the program.
III. Administrative costs shall not exceed 20 percent of the program's appropriation in any fiscal year, except that administrative costs for the first year of the program shall not exceed $50,000.
170-E:55 Repayment.
I. Recipients of loans made under this subdivision shall have their notes cancelled upon satisfactory completion of 2 years of work in a state-regulated child care agency following completion of their certificate or degree program.
II. The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to procedures for loan repayment in situations where the loan recipient fails to complete the required 2 years of work in a state-regulated child care agency.
3 Appropriation. The sum of $125,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 are hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purposes of this act. This appropriation shall be nonlapsing. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.
LBAO
99-0246
2/23/99
HB 717-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT establishing a child care incentive program for training child care workers, and making an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services stated this bill will increase state expenditures by $125,000 in FY 2000 and $250,000 in FY 2001. There will be no impact on state, county and local revenue or county and local expenditures.
This bill appropriates $125,000 in general funds in FY 2000 and $250,000 in FY 2001 to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of this act.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department assumed that the number of participants will be limited by the appropriation. Participants will enroll in only one class per semester (two per year). If actual experience is greater, costs will increase proportionately. Cost of one course will be $600, with $100 for books and $5 per hour for day care. It is further assumed that all participants will meet the requirements necessary to have their notes canceled, resulting in no repayments to the state. Cost per participant, per year, would be $1,200 for 2 courses, plus $200 for books, plus day care at $5 per hour per 4 hour class, meeting 16 times a semester ($1,200 + $200 + 640 = $2,040). Administrative costs will be $50,000 per year. The appropriation for FY 2000 would allow 61 participants ($125,000 - $50,000/$2,040). For FY 2001, the same 61 would participate at a cost of $75,000, plus administration of $50,000, leaving funds for 37 new participants (total participants - 98).