REFERENCE TITLE: child care workforce; scholarship program

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2626

Introduced by

Representatives Austin: Abeytia, Aguilar, Cavero, Crews, Garcia, Gutierrez, Liguori, Villegas, Volk

AN ACT

amending title 46, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 46-812; appropriating monies; relating to child care services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 46, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 46-812, to read:

START_STATUTE46-812. Child care workforce scholarship program

A. The department shall Establish a child care workforce scholarship program to provide a scholarship to an INDIVIDUAL who is BELOW eighty-five percent of the state median income and who is any of the following:

1. a teacher, educator, assistant or support staff of a department-contracted child care provider.

2. a district employee of a preschool program.

3. a district employee of a kindergarten program.

4. a district employee of any of grades one through twelve.

B. A person who is selected to receive a scholarship under this section shall use the monies only for department-contracted child care providers and the department shall pay the department-contracted child care providers directly.

C. The department shall disperse monies when the department receives the monies on a first-come, first-served basis. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of economic security; child care workforce scholarship program; exemption

A. The sum of $200,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the department of economic security for the child care workforce scholarship program established pursuant to section 46-812, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.