Tri-Share child care program.

Sec. 6b. (1) The Tri-Share child care program is established in the department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential for the continuation of the child care pilot project originally initiated and funded under section 1047(31) of article 5 of 2020 PA 166. The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall establish eligibility criteria for participation in the program. An employer may participate in the program if the employer covers at least 1/3 of the costs of an employee's child care costs. Notwithstanding this subsection, an employer may elect to contribute more than 1/3 of the costs of an employee's child care cost, up to and including the full costs of an employee's child care costs. (2) The Tri-Share child care fund is created within the state treasury. (3) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments. (4) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year must remain in the fund and not lapse to the general fund. (5) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential is the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes. (6) The department of lifelong education, advancement, and potential shall expend money from the fund, on appropriation, to do both of the following: (a) Administer the program established under subsection (1). (b) Fund child care facilitator hubs. (7) If a child care facilitator hub is established on or after October 1, 2026, the hub must be a nonprofit organization, limited liability company, C-corporation, S-corporation, or sole proprietor. (8) This section must not be construed to require any employer to contribute to the cost of child care for its employees. (9) As used in this section and section 6c: (a) "Fund" means the Tri-Share child care fund created in subsection (2). (b) "Program" means the Tri-Share child care program established in subsection (1).