Establishes Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Program in DHS.

This bill establishes the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Program to increase wages for early childhood educators working in licensed child care facilities across New Jersey. The program provides grant payments to child care providers to help them meet a new salary scale based on educators' degrees, experience, and job titles, aiming for pay parity with public school educators. To participate, facilities must enroll in New Jersey's quality rating system (Grow NJ Kids) and agree to pay educators at least the minimum salaries established by the program. The Department of Human Services will determine grant amounts using a formula that prioritizes facilities serving communities with limited economic resources. Funding for the program will come from a new Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, which can receive state appropriations and private contributions.