Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Childcare Nonstandard Hours topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Subcommittee refers bill to raise childcare payments for nonstandard hours to appropriations
Summary
The House Early Childhood Education Subcommittee voted 5-3 to send HB 1612, which would allow higher childcare subsidy reimbursements for providers that remain open outside standard business hours, to the Appropriations Committee after brief testimony and support from education and advocacy groups.
The Virginia House of Delegates Early Childhood Education Subcommittee voted 5-3 to report HB 1612 and refer it to the Appropriations Committee after Delegate Hernandez described the bill as a way to help families with nontraditional work schedules obtain affordable, quality childcare.
Delegate Angel Hernandez, the bill sponsor, told the subcommittee the measure was inspired by small-business owners and shift workers. "This is a bill to help families with nontraditional working hours find access to quality, affordable childcare," Hernandez said. He said the bill would, after a regulatory process, allow the childcare subsidy program to offer higher reimbursement rates to providers who remain open outside normal business hours so more providers will extend hours in the morning and evening.
The bill sponsor cited a Department of Health and Human Services study that, he said, finds "1 in 3 children, young children in the United States will require care outside of your standard business hours," noting nurses, firefighters and law-enforcement personnel among those affected. Hernandez also said the legislation leaves the definition of "traditional business hours" to the state department to set by regulation.
Supporters offered brief testimony. Shane Riddle of the Virginia Education Association said the association has taken a position of support for the bill. Latwila Mathias, executive director of Progress Virginia, also told the subcommittee she supports the bill. No in-person opposition speakers were recorded.
A subcommittee member initially moved to refer HB 1612 to the full committee; the motion was amended so the measure would instead be reported and referred to Appropriations. The motion to "report and refer to Appropriations" was seconded and passed on a roll call vote, 5 in favor and 3 opposed.
The subcommittee also approved a procedural motion earlier in the meeting to pass by two other bills — HB 1685 and HB 1972 — until next week.
Next steps: HB 1612 will be considered by the House Appropriations Committee, where any fiscal impacts would be reviewed. The transcript does not specify projected costs, nor does it provide text from the Appropriations review or a timeline for that committee's consideration.
