Chapter 15D of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 13 ½. (a) The board shall offer and support attainment of the Child Development Associate credential to address the workforce shortages in early education through educational course work and apprenticeship participation. The commissioner shall award the Child Development Associate credential upon satisfactory completion of the Child Development Associate credential program as specified by the national Council for Professional Recognition. The credential shall allow an applicant without a high school diploma, with only a high school diploma or with only a high school diploma equivalent to satisfy the minimum education and experience qualifications necessary to obtain a license from the department to work in a child care center or early education and care program licensed by the department.

(b) The Child Development Associate credential program shall be offered at no cost to students enrolled in the system of public institutions of higher education defined in section 5 of chapter 15A and shall be credited towards the student’s degree and graduation requirements.

(c) There shall be a separate fund on the books of the commonwealth to be known as the Child Development Associate Credential Fund. The fund shall consist of all monies recovered as fines pursuant to section 15. Such monies shall be deposited to the credit of the fund and shall, in addition to any other monies made available for such purpose, be expended by the board, without further appropriation, to fund credential program test expenses for individuals not enrolled in an institution that is part of the system of public institutions of higher education in exchange for a 2-year commitment to work in a child care center or early education and care program licensed by the department.

(d) The board shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this section.