For early education and care services for children with active cases at the department of children and families, for families currently involved with, or transitioning from, transitional aid to families with dependent children and for families participating in education and training services funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; provided, that providers shall be reimbursed for subsidized child care services funded under this item based on enrollment; provided further, that the department of early education and care, in collaboration with the department of children and families, shall maintain a centralized list detailing the number of children eligible for services under this item, the number of supportive slots filled and the number of supportive slots available; provided further, that for children with active cases at the department of children and families, funds may be used to provide services during a transition period of not less than 12 months upon the closure of the family's case with the department of children and families; provided further, that in the case of families involved with transitional aid to families with dependent children, early education and care shall be available to: (i) recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children benefits; (ii) former recipients who are working or are engaged in an approved service need activity for up to 1 year after termination of their benefits; (iii) participants who are working or are engaged in an approved service need activity for up to 1 year after the transitional period; and (iv) parents who are under 18 years of age who are currently enrolled in a job training program and who would qualify for benefits under
chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the consideration of the grandparents' income; provided further, that all teens eligible for year--round, full--time early education and care services shall be participating in school, education, work and training--related activities or a combination thereof for not less than the minimum number of hours required by applicable regulations; provided further, that recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall not be charged fees for care provided under this item; provided further, that early education and care services for families involved with transitional aid to families with dependent children 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 informal early education and care benefits for families involved with transitional aid to families with dependent children may be funded from this item; provided further, that the commissioner of early education and care may transfer funds to this item from items
3000-1000 and
3000-4060, as necessary, under an allocation plan, which shall detail, by object class, the distribution of the funds to be transferred; provided further, that the commissioner shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means not less than 30 days prior to the transfer; provided further, that not later than April 16, 2027, 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, 2027, 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 the deficiency; provided further, that reimbursements for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item; provided further, that the department of early education and care shall recoup funds owed by providers related to payments made by the department in prior fiscal years by reducing payments to such providers for services related to this item rendered in fiscal year 2027; and provided further, that all children eligible for services under this item shall receive such services
| | General Fund | ............... | 64.62% |
| | High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund | ............... | 15.38% |
| | Education and Transportation Fund | ............... | 20.00% |
