Summary: AN ACT relating to developmental preschool funding; modifying the per child amounts used to calculate payments to service providers; modifying requirements for the department of health's budget request for developmental preschool services as specified; modifying the date utilized to count the number of children that participate in the program; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Why It Matters: Child Development Centers (CDCs), most of which are staffed by women, play a critical role in the special education of our zero to five year olds who need therapy/therapies to address developmental delays and disabilities. CDCs also provide preschool for children which supports working mothers. The state is required by law, under IDEA, to provide services to children with developmental needs, and funding of the state's 14 Child Development Centers has not kept up with the cost to provide services, leaving many CDCs on the brink of closure.
This bill also came through as a budget amendment. The amendment passed and caps the funding at $12M, which is a substantial increase from previous years.