THE BILL ITSELF
HB 845
Employee Child Care Assistance Programs Study
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to employee child care assistance
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programs study; creating s. 402.3216, F.S.; requiring
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the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
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Accountability, beginning on a specified date, to
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perform a study of public and private employee child
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care assistance programs; providing requirements for
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the study; requiring the office to submit a certain
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report to the Governor and Legislature by a specified
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date; providing for future repeal of the study;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 402.3216, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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402.3216 Child Care Cost and Affordability Study.—
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(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of Program Policy
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Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) shall perform a
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study of public and private child care assistance programs for
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employees to evaluate the costs and affordability of the
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programs and effects on school readiness. The study's scope must
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include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
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(a) The characteristics of other states' programs.
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(b) The potential benefits of a Florida program.
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(c) The potential effects of a Florida program on:
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1. The state's school readiness program.
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2. The state's child care workforce.
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3. Childcare regulation and licensing.
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(2) In conducting the study, OPPAGA must consult with the
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school readiness program within the Department of Education, the
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child care licensing program within the Department of Children
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and Families, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and any other
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entity OPPAGA deems relevant.
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(3) By January 30, 2027, OPPAGA shall submit a report to
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the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
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the House of Representatives that details the findings of the
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study and includes recommendations and potential options for a
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state program to enhance school readiness, increase the
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affordability of childcare assistance, and contain state costs.
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(4) This section is repealed October 1, 2027.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.