Appropriations subcommittee adopts S‑1 and reports SB 164, backing new childcare and college supports

The Appropriations Subcommittee on My LEAP voted 2–1 to adopt the S‑1 amendment and to report Senate Bill 164 to the full committee at a subcommittee meeting. Senators Baker and Kleinfeld voted yea; Senator Albert voted nay. The panel also approved meeting minutes from March 13 and March 31 by unanimous consent.

The package the subcommittee reviewed and advanced contains multiple baseline adjustments and one‑time appropriations that the subcommittee said are intended to shore up childcare funding and expand college completion efforts. Committee presenters described the changes as a roughly 14.3% gross increase to the program budget, and a large general‑fund increase to meet federal maintenance‑of‑effort requirements and to backfill gaps in federal childcare funding.

Why it matters: Subcommittee members said childcare financing is central to workforce and economic goals because inadequate childcare limits parents’ ability to work. The measures the subcommittee approved include recurring and one‑time state dollars intended both to sustain federal aid and to increase pay and capacity for infant and toddler care providers.

Details the subcommittee discussed and advanced - Budget totals and major line items: Committee materials presented a gross budget increase from $643,000,000 to $736,000,000 (a 14.3% increase). General fund support was shown increasing from $136,500,000 to $226,900,000 (a 66.2% increase). The presentation identified a $63,000,000 increase classified as general‑fund gap fill for childcare. The subcommittee report also lists $750,000 in new private authorization and a $23,000,000 investment increase targeted at provider pay for infant and toddler care. - Postsecondary supports: The proposal continues funding for the Reconnect program (stated as increasing access to two‑year credentials), includes $2,000,000 for reenrolling students who stopped out, and replaces a line‑item for dual enrollment with a one‑time appropriation intended to create a dual‑enrollment task force (amount shown in the presentation as $10,000). The subcommittee reported $16,000,000 for college success and wrap‑around services (the presentation said this replaces a $15,000,000 governor recommendation) and identified an extra $1,000,000 for hunger‑free campus efforts. - Head Start and childcare expansion: The report includes nearly $4,000,000 in expansion grants designed to help Head Start providers expand into full‑service childcare if they choose to do so. - Federal maintenance‑of‑effort (MOE) adjustments: The presentation identified a one‑time $40,000,000 general‑fund appropriation to meet federal MOE requirements. Committee staff explained that the MOE total primarily covers a $38,500,000 estimated additional cost to shift the state payment model from post‑pay to prepay for childcare providers (which requires making extra payments within a single fiscal year) plus roughly $1,500,000 to contract with providers in underserved areas to satisfy federal contracting conditions.

Questions and clarifications during the meeting - Senator Baker asked whether the MOE payment change was for childcare; committee staff confirmed it is and described the operational effect: moving from post‑pay to prepay requires making additional payments in the fiscal year, which generates the estimated $38.5 million cost. - A senator asked about boilerplate language requiring a report where the executive deems provisions unenforceable. Committee staff said that language was proposed by the executive office and characterized it as a legal disagreement over enforceability; the clerk said that prior committees have had similar “deemed unenforceable” discussions.

Formal actions and votes - Adopt minutes (March 13): motion by Senator Kleinfeld, supported by the chair; adopted without objection. - Adopt S‑1 sub amendment for SB 164: motion by Senator Kleinfeld, supported by the chair; roll call — Senator Baker: yes; Senator Kleinfeld: yes; Senator Albert: no. Outcome: S‑1 adopted (vote 2–1). - Report SB 164 to the full committee: motion by Senator Kleinfeld, supported by the chair; roll call — Senator Baker: yes; Senator Kleinfeld: yes; Senator Albert: no. Outcome: SB 164 (S‑1) reported (vote 2–1). - Approve draft minutes (March 31): motion by Senator Kleinfeld; approved by unanimous consent.

Next steps and adjournment: With the votes concluded and no further business, the subcommittee adjourned. The S‑1 amendment and SB 164 will proceed to the full committee for further consideration.