For income-eligible early education and care programs; provided, that teen parents and homeless families at risk of becoming eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children may be paid from this item; provided further, that informal early education and care benefits for families meeting income-eligibility criteria may be funded from this item; provided further, that early education and care services funded from this item shall be distributed geographically in a manner that provides fair and adequate access to early education and care for all eligible individuals; provided further, that reimbursements to providers for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item; provided further, that the department shall recoup funds owed by providers related to payments made by the department in prior fiscal years by reducing payments to those providers for services related to this item rendered in fiscal year 2026; and provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds to this item from items
3000-1000 and
3000-3060, as necessary, pursuant to an allocation plan which shall detail by object class the distribution of the funds to be transferred and which the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance at least 10 days before the transfer
