AN ACT to appropriate funds to expand the wage$ program statewide.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), the sum of twenty‑two million seven hundred thousand dollars ($22,700,000) in recurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year and the sum of thirty‑six million three hundred thousand dollars ($36,300,000) in recurring funds for the 2024‑2025 fiscal year to expand the Child Care WAGE$ program, which provides salary supplements for early childhood educators. The funds shall be used to provide education‑based supplements to low‑wage educators and expand the program to all 100 counties in this State. The Division shall have one statewide contract with the Child Care Services Association (CCSA) to administer the WAGE$ program, one supplement structure, and one set of eligibility requirements that apply to all counties in the State.

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.