For income--eligible early education and care programs; provided, that providers shall be reimbursed for subsidized child care services funded under this item based on enrollment; provided further, that teen parents and homeless families identified as likely to become 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 under 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 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; provided further, the commissioner shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the executive office for administration and finance not less than 30 days prior to the transfer; provided further, that not more than 3 per cent of the funds appropriated in this item may be transferred in fiscal year 2026 as set forth in a plan submitted by the department of early education and care; provided further, that said plan shall be submitted to the joint committee on education, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the executive office for administration and finance; provided further, that not later than April 16, 2026, the commissioner shall submit a preliminary report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the executive office for administration and finance on the projected expenses for the program that shall include, but not be limited to, the expected surplus or deficiency for the program; provided further, that not later than June 30, 2026, if the department determines that the available appropriation for this program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses, the commissioner shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the executive office for administration and finance detailing the amount of appropriation needed to address such deficiency; provided further, that reimbursements for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item; provided further, that the department shall recoup funds owed related to payments made by the department in prior fiscal years by reducing payments for services related to this item rendered in fiscal year 2026; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any payment made under any such grant with a school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city, town or regional school district and held as a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without municipal appropriation
| | General Fund | ............... | 80.59% |
| | Education and Transportation Fund | ............... | 19.41% |
