Florida HB 845: Professional Development for the School Community

Bill Text

HB 845 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb845-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to employee child care assistance 2
programs study; creating s. 402.3216, F.S.; requiring 3
the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government 4
Accountability, beginning on a specified date, to 5
perform a study of public and private employee child 6
care assistance programs; providing requirements for 7
the study; requiring the office to submit a certain 8
report to the Governor and Legislature by a specified 9
date; providing for future repeal of the study; 10
providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. Section 402.3216, Florida Statutes, is created 15
to read: 16
402.3216 Child Care Cost and Affordability Study.— 17
(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of Program Policy 18
Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) shall perform a 19
study of public and private child care assistance programs for 20
employees to evaluate the costs and affordability of the 21
programs and effects on school readiness. The study's scope must 22
include, but need not be limited to, all of the following: 23
(a) The characteristics of other states' programs. 24
(b) The potential benefits of a Florida program. 25

HB 845 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb845-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(c) The potential effects of a Florida program on: 26
1. The state's school readiness program. 27
2. The state's child care workforce. 28
3. Childcare regulation and licensing. 29
(2) In conducting the study, OPPAGA must consult with the 30
school readiness program within the Department of Education, the 31
child care licensing program within the Department of Children 32
and Families, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and any other 33
entity OPPAGA deems relevant. 34
(3) By January 30, 2027, OPPAGA shall submit a report to 35
the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 36
the House of Representatives that details the findings of the 37
study and includes recommendations and potential options for a 38
state program to enhance school readiness, increase the 39
affordability of childcare assistance, and contain state costs. 40
(4) This section is repealed October 1, 2027. 41
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 42