An Act To Increase The Supply Of Child Care Services Through The Use Of Contracts

LD 1736 requires Maine's Office of Child and Family Services to directly contract with child care providers to create additional child care slots. It specifically targets children under 3 years old, children with disabilities, and children in underserved geographic areas. The office may also use these contracts for other priority groups, such as homeless children or those needing care outside standard hours, based on regional needs assessments. The bill authorizes using existing public or private funding sources to implement this approach, aiming to increase child care availability and stabilize payments for providers.