1 New Subparagraph; New Hampshire Employment Program and Family Assistance Program; Rulemaking; Child Care Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 167:83, II by inserting after subparagraph (q) the following new subparagraph:

(r) The development and administration of the child care scholarship program as a component of the Child Care Development Block Grant. The department may suspend implementation of this subparagraph if the department lacks sufficient appropriation for implementation. Such rules shall:

(1) Identify a protected class for children at-risk of or diagnosed with a disability or special needs under the Child Care Development Block Grant.

(2) Consider in its definition delays across all domains of child development including but not limited to a child's physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, and/or behavioral skills.

(A) The definition of "disability" or "special needs" under the child care scholarship program shall include any child who displays, or is at risk for, delayed social or emotional development.

(B) An eligible child shall not require a formal diagnosis or formal special education code, but rather shall qualify under this category so long as the child is screened and found to be delayed or at risk of delay through an approved early childhood developmental screening tool and the results verified by an approved by a child care provider and licensed treating clinician, or other approved licensed professional.

(3) Identify the standardized and/or approved early childhood developmental screening tools necessary to determine eligibility and establish the verification process by which a child's child care provider, licensed treating clinician, or other licensed professional as reasonably identified by the department, shall verify, or otherwise certify the results of the tool.

2 Appropriation. The sum of $375,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025 is appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of adopting rules and administering the child care scholarship program in accordance with the criteria specified in section 1 of this act. Of this amount, the governor shall determine if any remaining discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, or any other federal funds can be used for this purpose and any remainder, not to exceed $1, shall be general funds. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund share of said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

1 New Subparagraph; New Hampshire Employment Program and Family Assistance Program; Rulemaking; Child Care Scholarship Program. Amend RSA 167:83, II by inserting after subparagraph (q) the following new subparagraph:

(r) The development and administration of the child care scholarship program as a component of the Child Care Development Block Grant. The department may suspend implementation of this subparagraph if the department lacks sufficient appropriation for implementation. Such rules shall:

(1) Identify a protected class for children at-risk of or diagnosed with a disability or special needs under the Child Care Development Block Grant.

(2) Consider in its definition delays across all domains of child development including but not limited to a child's physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, and/or behavioral skills.

(A) The definition of "disability" or "special needs" under the child care scholarship program shall include any child who displays, or is at risk for, delayed social or emotional development.

(B) An eligible child shall not require a formal diagnosis or formal special education code, but rather shall qualify under this category so long as the child is screened and found to be delayed or at risk of delay through an approved early childhood developmental screening tool and the results verified by an approved by a child care provider and licensed treating clinician, or other approved licensed professional.

(3) Identify the standardized and/or approved early childhood developmental screening tools necessary to determine eligibility and establish the verification process by which a child's child care provider, licensed treating clinician, or other licensed professional as reasonably identified by the department, shall verify, or otherwise certify the results of the tool.

2 Appropriation. The sum of $375,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025 is appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of adopting rules and administering the child care scholarship program in accordance with the criteria specified in section 1 of this act. Of this amount, the governor shall determine if any remaining discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, or any other federal funds can be used for this purpose and any remainder, not to exceed $1, shall be general funds. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund share of said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.