§3731-A. Maine Child Care Affordability Program
The Maine Child Care Affordability Program is established in the department to provide child care subsidies under this chapter in accordance with the principles described under section 3732 to support the high-quality child care needs of children and working families while also providing a living wage to early childhood educators. Eligibility for child care subsidies under the Maine Child Care Affordability Program must be determined in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
[PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §1 (NEW).]
1.
State funding to support eligible families.
Other Special Revenue Funds allocated for the purposes of supporting the Maine Child Care Affordability Program may be used to support any eligible family.
[PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. RRR, §1 (NEW).]
2.
Federal funding.
The department shall maximize federal funding available for child care and may not supplant federal funding with general funds.
[PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. RRR, §2 (NEW).]
3.
Copayments limited.
The department shall limit the amount of copayments required to be paid by families receiving subsidies under the Maine Child Care Affordability Program in accordance with this subsection.
A.
A family earning up to 85% of the median family income in the State for a family of the same size may not be required to contribute more than 7% of the family’s household income as a copayment.
[PL 2025, c. 587, §1 (NEW).]
B.
Copayments may be further reduced or waived, as determined by the department, for additional populations, including, but not limited to:
[PL 2025, c. 587, §1 (NEW).]
(1)
Families earning up to 30% of the median family income in the State for a family of the same size;
(2)
Children who are in foster care or kinship care;
(3)
Families experiencing homelessness; and
(4)
Families with a child with a disability.
[PL 2025, c. 587, §1 (NEW).]
4.
Donations or grants accepted; nonlapsing funds.
The commissioner may accept donations or grants for the Maine Child Care Affordability Program from any source. Any unexpended funds appropriated or allocated by the Legislature or accepted by the commissioner for the purposes of the Maine Child Care Affordability Program may not lapse and must be carried forward in the same amount for the next fiscal year.
[PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. VV, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §1 (NEW). PL 2023, c. 643, Pt. RRR, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 587, §1 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. VV, §1 (AMD).