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No. 76 Page 17 of 74 2023

VT LEG #371318 v.1 improvements to learning environments. (b)(1) On January 1, 2024, the Department for Children and Families shall provide an adjustment to the base child care provider reimbursement rates in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program for child care services provided by center-based child care and preschool programs, family child care homes, and afterschool and summer care programs. The adjusted reimbursement rate shall account for the age of the children served and be 35 percent higher than the fiscal year 2023 five-STAR reimbursement rate in the Vermont STARS system. All providers in the same child care setting category shall receive a reimbursement rate payment, which shall be dependent upon whether the provider operates a regulated child care center and preschool program, regulated family child care home, or afterschool or summer care program. (2) The provider rate adjustment established in this section shall become part of the base budget in future fiscal years. Sec. 7. APPROPRIATION; CHILD CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (a) In addition to fiscal year 2024 funds appropriated for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program in other acts, in fiscal year 2024, $47,800,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department for Children and Families’ Child Development Division for: (1) the program eligibility expansion in Sec. 5a of this act; and (2) the fiscal year 2024 provider rate adjustment in Sec. 6 of this act.