Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program - Funding

SB 610 increases annual funding for Maryland's Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program. It requires the Governor to appropriate $450,000 for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2026, and $900,000 for 2027 and 2028 in the state budget. The bill modifies existing law to adjust these funding levels, allowing the use of federal funds to cover the required appropriations. This directly affects the Department of Education and local child care programs administering the initiative, which supports family child care providers through grants. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.