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House bill 3008 would fund recruitment, retention and apprenticeship supports for Oregon childcare workers
Summary
Supporters told the House Higher Education Committee that HB 3008 would continue $500 recognition payments, fund recruitment and retention payments through Portland State’s center, and support apprenticeship programs; sponsors said a proposed health‑benefit expansion was being removed for further work.
Representative Courtney Neron introduced House Bill 3008 on Feb. 11, describing it as a package to "make critical investments in Oregon's childcare workforce." She told the committee the bill would fund recruitment and retention payments through Portland State University’s Oregon Center for Career Development, provide resources to United We Heal Training Trust and other childcare workforce training programs, and support registered apprenticeship programs administered through BOLI (the Bureau of Labor and Industries).
Testimony in support came from multiple providers and program leaders. Samantha Morelli, program manager for the Child Care Recognition Payment Program, said the one‑time $500 payments administered under HB 502 distributed about $7.7 million to more than 15,000 childcare workers in the first year and that recipients reported stronger intentions to remain in the field. “These $500 payments may seem modest, but they have had a profound impact,” Morelli said.
FamilyForward and coalition testimony from Marchelle Marcos cited earnings data and small business revenue figures for home‑based providers and urged continuation of the recognition payments as a recruitment and retention tool while longer‑term wage strategies are developed.
Apprenticeship proponents described program models. Jenna Sanders, director for Mid Willamette Valley Community Action Child Care Resource & Referral, described a one‑year apprenticeship (2,000 paid work hours, 66 hours of community‑based training, 15 college credits, external coaching, stipends for mentor teachers) that the region launched; an initial three‑month cohort of 10 participants had eight continue into a full apprenticeship.
Several providers and program managers described administrative capacity and distribution mechanisms. Samantha Morelli said the program team distributed the recognition payments to 15,000 workers and processed high volumes of applications (6,000 in the first month). Chatterjee and other witnesses noted that the department and Portland State’s Oregon Center for Career Development already administer scholarships and registry services that HB 3008 would build on.
Representative Neron said an initial draft of HB 3008 had included a section to expand healthcare benefits for childcare workers but that the provision required further refinement; she said an amendment to remove that section was pending.
Ending: Proponents urged committee approval to sustain recognition payments and expand apprenticeship and recruitment supports; no formal committee action or votes were recorded in the hearing.
