[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6660312,"mediaKeyId","2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee","parentId",2435724,"title","Connecticut childcare overhaul advances amid debate over payroll tax and timing of wage increases","audioSeconds",9903,"startMs",1736000,"endMs",11639000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee&start=1736&end=11639","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee/thumbnail_1736000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660312/Connecticut/Connecticut-childcare-overhaul-advances-amid-debate-over-payroll-tax-and-timing-of-wage-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660312-867426f93c404ae205cf3ce3eb25892a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104810&Signature=oKuhpah9nN6xQmIEEk9R-b-ZgieA7FdpjfROugLVxm1amJ-x5yQzlhrU9ZVA4WC8oJzXcPQVR-LfE0Z7McgIgIUqm~sBaXsNPEfErC3vCaov3Dqdhvb7wt49qfVrMfYMWDy7Pu8sykBeemksn9F0my32Hos0~fcBnuVAlYc2sH1Ef82NLhcfhqu~77ZBXPT~HynwpeH-6m5RYNGoU756DtfZEhm7SUI5torJO3XC4c8sYEixec5Oy6C5D6TGVxK5wA8vigA56NGkw~KR0yr5~lHbLD4etrWxZBIL1oy89GpoHSIVGTckSlH2WI3gNHPZrGGGEPMU9~tQnB~PJ3VQjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Connecticut State Legislature - Children","date","2025-02-27T19:57:09.613Z","article","Hartford — Lawmakers and stakeholders debated Senate Bill 1369 on Feb. 27 in a public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Committee on Children, focusing on proposals to cap family child-care costs at 7% of household income, create a dedicated workforce childcare fund and board, and finance it in part with a 1.5% employer payroll charge.

The bill’s backers, including child-care providers and advocacy groups, said the measure would make care more affordable for families and raise wages for the early-education workforce. Business groups, unions and some advocates warned the proposed payroll charge is regressive or could drive unintended harms unless the funding design and implementation timeline are changed.

Why it matters: Connecticut faces persistent childcare shortages and high costs that stakeholders say limit parents’ ability to work and suppress the labor force. SB 1369 would create a defined revenue stream for grants to raise pay, fund retention incentives and underwrite facility improvements while capping the share of household income parents pay for care.

Supporters described the bill as a long-term, structural fix. “This workforce childcare bill is an opportunity to address the critical issues that are overwhelming child care here right now and the working families in Connecticut,” said Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, Coalition Director of Child Care for CT. Bermudez Zimmerman pointed to examples in other jurisdictions where dedicated funds were used to raise compensation and expand access: “You have the example of Washington, D.C. … they use that money to pay for raises for their providers.”

Opponents and cautions

Business and nonprofit representatives urged caution about the payroll charge. “CBIA respectfully opposes section 4 of the Senate Bill 1369 … which would impose a 1.5% payroll tax on employers’ expenses,” said Shanna Grasso, a public policy associate with the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. Grasso and other business witnesses said Connecticut’s tax and cost environment already strains employers and small businesses.

Several witnesses representing providers and labor unions asked the committee to change the bill’s sequencing. Daniel Colón, director of the Family Child Care Providers Union at CSEA SEIU Local 2001, testified that the bill as drafted requires wage increases to take effect before grants are available. “This timeline creates a funding gap of up to one year where family childcare providers and educators will be legally required to increase wages before receiving grant funding intended to support those wage increases,” Colón said, adding that the gap could force programs to raise parent fees, cut staff or close.

Policy details and implementation issues

Key programmatic elements discussed at the hearing include:
- A 7% cap on eligible families’ childcare costs (SB 1369 text cited by multiple witnesses).
- Establishment of a workforce childcare fund and an oversight board to administer grants, wage enhancements and facility-improvement funding.
- A proposed 1.5% employer payroll charge to capitalize the fund (section numbers referenced by witnesses during testimony).
- Salary enhancement grants and retention incentives intended to raise educator pay and reduce turnover.

Several witnesses urged the legislature to consider alternative revenue sources or guardrails for employers. Connecticut Voices for Children, a research and advocacy group, said it could not support the bill “as read” because it creates a new fund and uses a payroll-based charge that the organization described as regressive and potentially shifting costs to small businesses and consumers.

Providers and advocates repeatedly emphasized a sequencing fix: if wage increases are required, funding must be delivered in a way that allows providers to implement raises without operating shortfalls. “For this bill to work, funding for wage increases must be provided to childcare centers before they increase takes in effect,” said Francesca Velásquez, owner of Play to Learn Center.

Support across labor, provider and business lines

Witnesses were split across sectors. Many providers and parent advocates urged swift action, describing the current system as unsustainable. “The child care system has been broken for decades,” Tara Volpe, director of organizing and strategic partnerships for Child Care for CT, told the committee. Several business owners said they supported the policy goals but urged legislators to refine the revenue approach and to build employer safeguards.

Comparative examples and precedent

Proponents cited other jurisdictions that used dedicated funds to expand access and raise compensation, including New Mexico, Washington, D.C., Portland, Ore., and Vermont, and said those efforts showed long-term economic benefits. Opponents and some analysts urged more detailed modeling of economic impacts before adopting a payroll charge.

What happens next

Members of the Committee on Children held the hearing to gather testimony; no committee vote was recorded during the session. Several witnesses asked that the bill be revised to (a) avoid a funding gap between required wage increases and grant disbursements, (b) consider alternatives to a flat payroll levy, and (c) coordinate with existing early-childhood funds and boards. Lawmakers may amend SB 1369 in response to those concerns before any vote.

Ending note

Supporters called the bill a needed structural fix to a system in crisis, while businesses and some advocates urged reworking the financing and implementation timeline to avoid unintended harm to small employers and the providers the plan seeks to help.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Children Public Hearing 2/27","oneSentenceSummary","Hartford — Lawmakers and stakeholders debated Senate Bill 1369 on Feb. 27 in a public hearing before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Committee on Children, focusing on proposals to cap family child-care costs at 7% of household income, create a dedicated workforce childcare fund and board, and finance it in part with a 1.5% employer payroll charge.","taxTitle","Children, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Connecticut","taxId",15139,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660305,"Department of Children and Families backs data report on foster payments as the state faces placement shortages",4448,1524000,5972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee&start=1524&end=5972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee/thumbnail_1524000.jpg","/articles/6660305/Connecticut/Department-of-Children-and-Families-backs-data-report-on-foster-payments-as-the-state-faces-placement-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660305-26cb6d66c6c1d1c842cc7f3f57c1255d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104810&Signature=MxWq2CDJftKSKJKFvHgmAv-ssan5YJZm8ErPH0ntckhSsInPZSDjJmmi-femRsd3R4UjQULg1cMkvU6gKJdCF4qi1t2hdYwwG~dtdJ0~dHl-ilzIKwr3tqWDmluWwK6WDADwaA5pa9oIxoKA~IaifXC4xAmevMmtVyNgDC1WNua-KE2~7gHFSWMd416mEjiRo7KdWHSUP0Dr~IHM~S3Ol6HEk0c3ouDfTDmTkuWak2FOJlsjelu5kv4j7kFmdlXqMDisWgcPQbqNN4SzW3172n8A4U8LIK50HCmcIgdwO1c57INEXR1grkxvG2lzwTa-Y~~x5iT8mITFxtcggHmWzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hartford — Department of Children and Families Commissioner Jody Hill Lilly told the Committee on Children on Feb. 27 that Connecticut supports a study of foster-care payments and rates and warned the state faces the same national challenges in placing older youth in foster homes.

Lede and context

Commissioner Lilly testified in support of House Bill 7043, a measure that would require DCF to submit a report comparing foster parent payments in Connecticut with neighboring jurisdictions and other relevant data. “Foster parents are critical to the child-welfare system,” she said, noting a nationwide shortage of foster parents for older youth and higher acuity among children entering care.

Why it matters

Witnesses said shortages in foster homes can destabilize placements and affect child safety. Advocates urged the state to measure whether payment levels and supports are discouraging potential foster parents and to consider stipend structures that reflect real monthly costs, respite needs and emergency placements.

Key testimony and findings

Lilly said the agency increased foster care rates last year “to attract more families,” and that any further rate increases would depend on what the state can afford and be determined through budget negotiations. She thanked the committee for advancing her agency’s bill that would establish a foster-parent bill of rights.

Jennifer Fell, a former foster parent, urged lawmakers to capture more granular data — including costs for clothing, car seats and respite — and to consider special payments for emergency placements and respite weekends.

The Center for Children’s Advocacy recommended statutory changes and more regular reporting. Sarah Egan of the Center for Children’s Advocacy said Connecticut’s foster-parent reimbursement rates have changed little in two decades: “Since 02/2006 have gone up about $2.50 a day for foster parents in the last 20 years,” Egan said, and she noted that neighboring Massachusetts pays more per day and provides quarterly clothing allowances.

Implementation questions

Witnesses recommended routine foster-parent surveys and exit interviews to track recruitment and retention, stronger reporting on contacts between DCF support staff and foster parents, and a clearer accounting of how funds are used for children’s wraparound needs. The Center suggested annualizing reporting so policymakers have up-to-date information on capacity and trends.

What happens next

Committee members accepted testimony; no vote occurred that day. Advocates asked lawmakers to consider recommendations for regular reporting, clearer stipend policies for emergent needs, and alignment of foster-parent support with recruitment and retention strategies. DCF reiterated that any statutory rate increases would follow budget negotiations and fiscal capacity.

Ending note

Testimony underscored that payments are only one part of recruitment and retention; advocates urged clearer, regular data and operational fixes so that foster families have the supports they say they need.","Hartford — Department of Children and Families Commissioner Jody Hill Lilly told the Committee on Children on Feb. 27 that Connecticut supports a study of foster-care payments and rates and warned the state faces the same national challenges in placing older youth in foster homes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660309,"Office of Early Childhood and advocates back online portal to help families find child care",8692,1933000,10625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee&start=1933&end=10625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee/thumbnail_1933000.jpg","/articles/6660309/Connecticut/Office-of-Early-Childhood-and-advocates-back-online-portal-to-help-families-find-child-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660309-25ca755034a85106478a02fd16925582/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104810&Signature=eXBETVbmAU32qsFC1j7xXVmNEGRNTgAPRFyL6FUHoJK5-EaPKC3MMWRF9RoPELOUUqDKAP1ok0g1sVLIdqjHCGbO9ZJRDnZb-JteJ2zeuw3R0KuOoZ5u5iSU4sK189YjE99cN-YzbZDglhL3KC5oJvtYhdffIBRmQLhaOnhjiTgov3cAZyJb47czM1E7EWvBSbSlKLTFzdLWQQlRFVn0SxmgDySvxzXkq-j2ElKEgBppXDmLPNtxvy3b3eDNi0AgAIfUEGiot57K6K00Lquo22PZSPM3qdiP4~DjwhbXaoyDZ4CHohEyxJgAV4in803EH6CDbm1pHbqlLaRILJxSmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hartford — Supporters of a proposed early care and education portal described the measure as a practical step to reduce barriers that parents face when searching for child care across Connecticut.

Acting Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Elena Truer told the Committee on Children on Feb. 27 that House Bill 7044 would create “a single online platform or website where families can search, compare programs, understand what’s available in regards to slots and spaces,” and would provide aggregate statewide data to help policymakers and providers plan.

Why it matters: Witnesses said families and providers need a centralized, up-to-date information system. Testifiers noted that many parents spend months searching for care and that real-time vacancy information and a streamlined application process could increase access and reduce administrative burdens.

Support and technical concerns

Nick Teeling of Connecticut Voices for Children and Corlise Santana of the Connecticut Project Action Fund supported the portal’s transparency goals but urged attention to design, mobile access and how provider data will be updated.

“The portal as currently described would offer greater transparency for families, providers, and officials alike to be able to access at any time a comprehensive picture of ECE programs across the state,” Nick Teeling said.

Several witnesses recommended the portal be integrated with existing provider systems and designed for mobile access and low-tech users. Representatives of labor and provider groups also asked that the portal reduce paperwork burdens on providers rather than create extra administrative work.

Costs and governance

Commissioner Truer acknowledged the portal will “incur cost,” and witnesses urged the legislature to budget for initial development and ongoing maintenance. Some witnesses asked that the portal be coordinated with existing state structures — for example, the early childhood care and education trust fund and Office of Early Childhood systems — rather than creating parallel reporting regimes.

What happens next

The Committee on Children held the hearing to gather testimony on HB 7044; no committee action was taken that day. Supporters asked lawmakers to ensure the portal’s design is user-friendly, mobile-accessible and linked to existing subsidy and enrollment systems so families and providers benefit without undue new administrative demands.

Ending note

Witnesses framed the portal as a relatively low-cost, high-impact investment that could reduce search time for families, increase transparency and provide the state with better data to target future investments.","Acting Office of Early Childhood Commissioner described House Bill 7044 as a single online portal to let families search and compare programs and provide aggregate statewide data. Advocates and business groups supported the portal; witnesses cautioned about design, mobile access and ongoing costs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660299,"Office of the Child Advocate readies report on probate guardianship; probate administrator urges collaboration",622,2042000,2664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee&start=2042&end=2664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2435724-c4a00dfc0be1004aaa0af83d440e57ee/thumbnail_2042000.jpg","/articles/6660299/Connecticut/Office-of-the-Child-Advocate-readies-report-on-probate-guardianship-probate-administrator-urges-collaboration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660299-89bdd42e27102a4917c752a2c49cccb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104810&Signature=TBXi1T8XaCIuBSLg2CPTg2cjxxunh77kwgvILDBFrR3agIoyW4xQyNDI~d-CrL7N5cCcwjbaTIciLMXmY39Du5jvgVCxl2y86VrpcYIiQ~~R8yMuAJWZ-TEBKvxK6F5UQOwuaKWbCcWUsBWx6HzTxNsIUt3c7XVsiAEFvuJbiozQJLwqJEfgoMk~yE0CfK86ppjMGLKLZ5iNL9GgAXJ-s2L~YhABseyNuUHk6g8ycFbsGMRh-YxM6Qa9ytSEfgMmolebIqN2~8TsgqpoaonSqetnEQCvXy31suNNNLGBiaKg-2fZjhxGzyq5PRBOFzyH1gj0b409L~Q1HBqbAZ~jDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hartford — The Office of the Child Advocate told the Committee on Children on Feb. 27 that it will release a report next week reviewing probate court procedures for appointing guardians for minors and recommended further study and collaboration among agencies.

What the OCA found and recommended

Christina Guillot, acting child advocate, told the committee that the OCA’s forthcoming report examines statutes and procedures related to the removal and appointment of guardians in probate courts, DCF’s written procedures for providing assessments to probate judges, and Department of Social Services policy on financial assistance to guardians.

Guillot said the review was prompted by a recent arrest of an appointed guardian and the legislature’s requirement in Public Act 24-118, section 12 that OCA review guardianship procedures. She said the draft report has been shared with DCF and Probate Court Administration and that the OCA “anticipate[s] releasing it next week.”

Among the findings Guillot highlighted were that:
- When probate courts request an assessment by DCF, the matter is not always treated as a child-protection investigation and may yield incomplete information; and
- Probate judges and panel attorneys are not required to receive training specific to guardianship of minors, trauma, or recognizing signs of abuse or grooming.

Guillot said the OCA recommended convening a working group to review the report’s issues and offered 1 statutory recommendation to ensure parents and proposed guardians receive information that clarifies the differences between guardianship by probate and foster-care placement — particularly that certain DCF duties (reasonable-efforts-to-reunify requirements) do not apply in the same way in guardianship cases.

Probate court response

Beverly Streit, the state probate court administrator, testified that the probate court system views itself as a partner with DCF and the Office of the Child Advocate and said she welcomed continued collaboration. Streit said she submitted written concerns about some substitute language in the OCA draft but that her office looks forward to working on mutually agreeable statutory language.

What happens next

The committee accepted testimony and did not take a vote that day. The OCA said it would seek feedback from DCF and Probate Court Administration and urged the convening of a working group to develop recommendations. Probate court administration indicated it will participate and seek revisions to language it finds problematic.

Ending note

Witnesses said the goal is improved information for parents, better training for judges and attorneys handling guardianship cases involving minors, and clearer procedures so courts and child-welfare authorities make informed, safety-focused decisions.","The Office of the Child Advocate told lawmakers it will release a report next week examining probate court guardianship procedures required by Public Act 24-118, section 12; the report recommends a working group and possible statutory changes to ensure proposed guardians receive information about differences between guardianship and foster care. ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Connecticut childcare overhaul advances amid debate over payroll tax and timing of wage increases

Department of Children and Families backs data report on foster payments as the state faces placement shortages

Office of Early Childhood and advocates back online portal to help families find child care

Office of the Child Advocate readies report on probate guardianship; probate administrator urges collaboration