The department shall evaluate child care subsidies provided under this chapter and, beginning January 15, 2024 and annually thereafter, submit a report of the evaluation with recommendations on increasing enrollment and reducing barriers to families receiving child care subsidies to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters. The report must include:
1. Barriers. The identification of access barriers:
A. For children and families to know about and enroll in the Maine Child Care Affordability Program established under section 3731‑A; and
B. For all child care programs to participate in the Maine Child Care Affordability Program established under section 3731‑A;
2. Feedback. The ways in which the department has engaged with feedback from families and child care programs through multiple engagement tools, such as surveys, listening sessions and focus groups; and
3. Reimbursement. The instances and frequency of and reasons for delayed or late reimbursement payments from the Office of Child and Family Services to participating child care programs and plans to remedy delayed or late reimbursement payments.