An Act to Establish the Child Care Employment Award
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2066
Sponsors: INGWERSEN, DAUGHTRY, FECTEAU
Amends: 22 MRSA §3731-B

Legislative Document
No. 2066
S.P. 855
In Senate, December 17, 2025
An Act to Establish the Child Care Employment Award
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 15, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator INGWERSEN of York.
Cosponsored by Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, 
MOORE of Washington, NANGLE of Cumberland, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, 
Representative: Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3731-B is enacted to read:
§3731-B.  Child Care Employment Award
The Child Care Employment Award is established in the department in order to provide 
child care subsidies to recipients who are employed by child care facilities or family child 
care providers licensed pursuant to section 8301-A and whose children are receiving care 
from such licensed child care facilities or licensed family child care providers.  Subsidy 
awards must be provided directly to the child care facility or family child care provider.  
The department may adopt rules regarding subsidy award amounts, waiting list 
management, quality standards and limitations on the number of children supported.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Child Care Employment Award staffing.  The Department of Health 
and Human Services shall establish a full-time, permanent staff position in the Office of 
Child and Family Services to administer the Child Care Employment Award pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3731-B.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Child Care Services 0563
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding for the Child Care Employment Award.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$0
$3,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$3,000,000
Child Care Services 0563
Initiative: Establishes one Social Services Program Specialist II position to administer the 
Child Care Employment Award and provides funding for related All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
0.000
1.000
Personal Services
$0
$119,041
All Other
$0
$7,256
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$126,297
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
GENERAL FUND
$0
$3,126,297
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$0
$3,126,297
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Child Care Employment Award in order to provide child care 
subsidies to recipients who are employed by licensed child care facilities or family child 
care providers and whose children are receiving care from such facilities or providers.  It 
provides that subsidy awards must be provided directly to the child care facility or family 
child care provider.  It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt 
routine technical rules regarding subsidy award amounts, waiting list management, quality 
standards and limitations on the number of children supported.  It also requires the 
department to establish a full-time position to administer the award and increases the award 
program's funding to $3,000,000.