Corrado Bill Bolsters State’s Child Care Assistance Program

Bipartisan Measure Increases Compensation for Participating Care-Providers

Bipartisan Legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Corrado revising the subsidized child care assistance program cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

The measure, S-2908, increases child care provider payments and revises hourly limits on child care for school-aged children under the subsidized child care assistance program during the 2020-2021 school year.

“The importance of child care providers in the state subsidized assistance program has been magnified as the COVID pandemic has impacted school schedules and driven many districts across the state to a hybrid of in-class and remote instruction,” said Corrado (R-40). “The need for child care has never been higher, and this bill will allow providers to be fairly compensated for the increased services they provide.”

Under the bill, the primary money source to fund the rate increases would be provided with federal dollars allocated pursuant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant of 1990. If additional funds are required, they would be appropriated from the state’s General Fund.

The subsidized child care assistance program is administered by the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services.