Modifies requirements for child care reimbursement

This bill creates a voluntary program to provide transitional child care subsidies to parents whose income is too high to qualify for full state benefits but still needs assistance. Under the new rules, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would pay a portion of child care costs based on a sliding scale tied to the family's income, ranging from 80% for those just above the eligibility limit down to 20% for those near the program's maximum income cap. Parents would be responsible for paying the remaining balance directly to their child care providers, and the program would allow families to receive these transitional benefits without first qualifying for the full subsidy tier. The legislation also requires the department to seek federal waivers to implement the plan and mandates annual reporting on participant numbers, program costs, and the impact on employment and state tax revenue.