Ohio lawmakers are trying to solve the growing child care problem in the state. A new bill has been introduced to share the cost of child care among employers, workers, and the state. This is an attempt to ease the financial burden on families and help businesses by making child care more affordable and accessible.
State Representative Mark Johnson from Chillicothe reintroduced the bill, known as Ohio House Bill 2, earlier this year. The bill was first presented last year, but due to time constraints, it struggled to pass. This time, however, the bill has been introduced early in the new General Assembly session, and its first hearing took place on Tuesday in the House Children and Human Services Committee.
The plan behind the bill is to create a new program called the “Child CareCred Program.” This program would direct $10 million to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. The funds would be given to employers who want to help their workers pay for child care. The program is designed to be easy to access, with funds distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
What makes this bill different is that it looks to involve employers, workers, and the state in solving the child care issue. The idea is to create a partnership where everyone shares the costs and responsibilities. By doing this, Representative Johnson hopes to make child care more affordable for families and remove a major obstacle that stops parents from joining or staying in the workforce.
The need for such a program is growing. According to a report from Care.com, many American families are spending up to $36,000 a year on child care. This has caused financial stress for many parents, especially mothers. Some are being forced to reduce their working hours or quit their jobs altogether to take care of their children.
In Ohio, the situation is equally concerning. Johnson explained that in some parts of the state, workforce participation is as low as 50%. This means that many parents cannot work or are choosing to leave their jobs because they can’t find affordable child care. The bill is seen as a necessary step to ensure Ohio stays competitive as a business-friendly state.
The bill also responds to a proposal from Governor Mike DeWine. In his recent budget proposal, DeWine suggested increasing eligibility for publicly funded child care, which would allow more families to get assistance. However, Johnson argued that simply raising eligibility limits may not be enough. He believes that increasing child care support for employers and employees would do more to help working families in Ohio.
Another bill, House Bill 7, was also introduced by Representatives Andrea White and Sharon Ray. This bill aims to increase the number of stable and safe foster homes in Ohio by providing publicly funded child care to foster children in kinship care. About 14,300 children are in foster care in Ohio, and 4,000 of them are placed with relatives or family friends. The goal is to remove barriers that prevent potential foster and kinship parents from offering care to these children.
Both of these bills are moving through the legislative process and will continue to be reviewed by lawmakers. They will have hearings where supporters and critics can share their views before a vote is held. If the bills pass, they will go to the full House for a vote.
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Ohio’s child care crisis is not just a problem for families but also for businesses and the economy. High child care costs are causing parents, especially mothers, to reduce their working hours or leave their jobs. The new cost-sharing model introduced by Ohio lawmakers aims to address this issue by involving employers, workers, and the state in a shared solution. The Child CareCred Program offers a way for businesses to help their employees with child care costs, making it easier for parents to stay in the workforce. This program could be a game-changer for Ohio, helping businesses remain competitive and families find the support they need.
(Source : newsbreak.com)
