(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Creating an Investment Opportunity for Early Childhood Workers Act of 2025”.
(b) As used in this section, “early childhood worker” means a person who is:(1) Providing teaching, early childcare education, or supervision for a child enrolled in a licensed childcare facility under the Childcare Facility Licensing Act, § 20-78-201 et seq.;(2) Employed by a childcare provider that is licensed and regulated by the Department of Education as an appropriate early childhood program as defined under § 6-45-103; and(3) Employed by a childcare provider that receives state or federal child care funding from the Department of Education under § 6-87-101.
(1) Providing teaching, early childcare education, or supervision for a child enrolled in a licensed childcare facility under the Childcare Facility Licensing Act, § 20-78-201 et seq.;
(2) Employed by a childcare provider that is licensed and regulated by the Department of Education as an appropriate early childhood program as defined under § 6-45-103; and
(3) Employed by a childcare provider that receives state or federal child care funding from the Department of Education under § 6-87-101.
(c) (1) A single nonprofit fiscal agent that is approved by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System may act as a pass-through fiscal agent to facilitate the voluntary participation of an early childhood worker in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.(2) The board shall authorize participation consistent with § 24-7-202(21)(F)(i) and § 24-7-202(21)(F)(ii).(3) Membership in the system is not mandatory for an employee of a facility regardless of whether the board authorizes participation under subdivision (c)(2) of this section.
(1) A single nonprofit fiscal agent that is approved by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System may act as a pass-through fiscal agent to facilitate the voluntary participation of an early childhood worker in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.
(2) The board shall authorize participation consistent with § 24-7-202(21)(F)(i) and § 24-7-202(21)(F)(ii).
(3) Membership in the system is not mandatory for an employee of a facility regardless of whether the board authorizes participation under subdivision (c)(2) of this section.
(d) An early childhood worker shall not be entitled to:(1) Contribution from state funds; or(2) Matching from the state or the system.
(1) Contribution from state funds; or
(2) Matching from the state or the system.
(e) The board shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this section.