Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Care topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate designates May Child Care Awareness Month and highlights cost and workforce pressures
Summary
The California Senate adopted a concurrent resolution recognizing May as Child Care Awareness Month and cited high childcare costs and staffing shortages while urging greater investment in universal childcare and educator pay.
The California Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 72 proclaiming May as Child Care Awareness Month and spotlighting affordability and workforce problems in the early‑childhood sector.
Sen. Wahab, the resolution’s sponsor, told colleagues that average center‑based childcare costs in California can be as high as $19,547 per year and said a married couple would need to spend about 15% of median income to afford childcare; she added a single parent could face costs equal to about 46.7% of median income. Wahab argued for greater investment in universal childcare and higher wages to retain early‑childhood educators.
The resolution was called for a roll call and passed, with 34 ayes and no no votes. The resolution itself is a recognition measure; senators used the floor time to emphasize that childcare workforce wages and provider shortages remain a barrier to access and economic participation for families.
Members asked staff and colleagues to continue work on policy and budget solutions, including options for full‑day childcare and extended school hours, to improve workforce retention and affordability.
