An Act to Increase
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1955
Committee Amendment CA_B_S515 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT UQ " to S,P, 763, L.D. 1955, "An Act to Increase
Child Care Affordability and Early Childhood Educator Stability"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Increase Child Care Affordability'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 22 MR8A §3731-A, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3. Donations or erants accepted; nonlansine funds. The commissionef may accept
donations or grants for the Maine Child Care Affordabilitv Program from any source, Any
unexpended funds aDDropriated or allocated by the Legislature or accepted by the
commissioner for the purposes of the Maine Child Care Affordabilitv ProRram may not
lapse and must be carried forward in the same amount for the next fiscal year.
Sec. 2. Sustainability of Maine Child Care Affordability Program. The
Department of Health and Human Services shall develop a long-term plan that ensures the
financial sustainability of the Maine Child Care Affordability Program established in the
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3731-A. The plan must include the necessary
level of funding that must be appropriated in order to serve all families that qualify for the
Maine Child Care Affordability Program. The department shall submit a report with the
long-term plan to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over
health and human services matters no later than December 15, 2026, The committee is
authorized to report out legislation to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
See. 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 Maine Child Care Affordability Program.
Page I - 132LR2206(08)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^)" to S.P. 763, L,D. 1955
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
AH Other $0 $15,000,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $15,000,000
Amend the bill by relettedng or renum.bering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill and
changes the title and does the following,
1. It retains the provision of the bill that requires the Department of Health and Human
Services to develop a long-term plan for the financial sustainability of the Maine Child
Care Affordability Program but changes the date the department must submit the plan to
the Legislature to no later than December I 5,2026.
2. It allows the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to accept donations or
grants for the program from any source.
3. It clarifies tliat funds to support the program are nonlapsing.
4, It requires ongoing funding of $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2026-27 to fund the
program.
5. It includes an appropriations and allocations section,
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page2.132LR2206(08)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/03/26 i-Ki-
LD 1955 LR 2206(08)
An Act to Increase Child Care Affordability and Early Childhood Educator Stability
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ^ f<^"Q^
Committee; Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $15,000,000 $15,000,000 $15,000,000
|»propriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 $15,000,000 $15,000,000 $15,000,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes a ongoing General Fund appropriations of $15,000,000 to the Department of Health and Human
Services beginning in fiscal year 2026-27 for the Maine Child Care Affordability Program.
Any additional costs to the State Board of Education from the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LR2206(08) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1