Children: child care; child care provider funding program; create. Amends 1973 PA 116 (MCL 722.111 - 722.128) by adding sec. 13b. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0945'26

This bill creates a new state-funded program to provide bonus payments to qualified child care providers in Michigan. The legislation establishes a dedicated fund within the Department of Treasury that can be financed through state appropriations, federal funds, and private donations. Payments from this fund are distributed based on the number and age of children served, with younger children under 36 months receiving a higher rate than older children. The bill requires providers to have billed the state for services within the past six months to be eligible for these payments. It also includes provisions ensuring the money remains in the fund year-to-year and cannot be used to satisfy federal matching requirements.