130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1652		LR 514(02)
	An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - local school administrative units Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$200,000	$200,000	$200,000	$200,000
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$200,000	$200,000	$200,000	$200,000
	Federal Block Grant Fund		$200,000	$200,000	$200,000	$200,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $200,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2021-22 to the Employment Services Activity program within the Department of Labor to expand the apprenticeship program for those working in the field of early childhood child care and education.
	The bill includes ongoing Federal Block Grant Fund allocations to the Department of Health and Human Services of $200,000 beginning in fiscal year 2021-22 for comprehensive scholarships to early childhood educators working with children from birth to 5 years of age.
	Additionally, this bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services include in its future budget request pursuant to Title 5, section 1665, on-going General Fund appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2023-2024 of $4,500,000 for education-based and experience-based salary supplements for early childhood educators working with young children birth to 5 years of age. These estimates are the basis for the creation of the Governor's proposed biennial budget. Whether this request will be successful in making it through the Governor's and the Legislature's budget process cannot be determined at this time. If this funding is provided, it would increase costs in the future.
	Expanding the number of career and technical education centers at which early childhood education programs are available and supporting early childhood education courses through funding for training and the purchase of updated textbooks, equipment and other course materials will increase the total cost of public education from kindergarten to grade 12 and the State's share of that cost beginning in fiscal year 2021-22.  The impact will depend on the scope of the expansion recommended in the early childhood educators workforce support program developed by the Commissioners of Health and Human Services, Education and Labor.  The Department of Education estimates the ongoing cost for each expansion to be $110,391 assuming 32 students per program and a one-time cost per expansion of $103,895 for space and equipment needs.