The department shall create and maintain an estimator tool in accordance with this section to calculate the actual cost of quality child care. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
1. Considerations. In developing the costs estimator tool, the department shall consider:
A. Including a living wage compensation scale for early childhood educators; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
B. Including employee salaries and benefits; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
C. Including facility costs; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
D. Including costs associated with compliance with statutory and rule requirements, including the child care quality rating system under section 3737, subsection 3 and specific costs associated with each step of the rating system and any quality indicators used; [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
E. Differentiating rates by child age and geographic region; and [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
F. Using data and research from available studies and reports. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VVV, §7 (NEW).]
2. Accessibility. The estimator tool must be publicly accessible. The department's process for making changes to the tool must be transparent to the public.