Senate committee advances childcare provider incentive bill to Ways and Means

The Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health on March 27 voted to send Senate Bill 567 to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation and referred the measure to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The bill directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to establish and implement a childcare provider incentive program and requires the department to adopt rules on program eligibility, terms and conditions, incentive types, distribution priorities and financial penalties for noncompliance. Committee staff also told members the bill creates a separate childcare provider incentive fund in the state treasury but does not include money to seed that fund.

"Senate Bill 567 directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to establish and implement a childcare provider incentive program. It directs DELC to establish a rule and program eligibility, terms and conditions, incentive types, distribution priorities, and financial penalties for noncompliance," said Katie, a staff member who summarized the bill to the committee.

Committee discussion made clear the measure sets up the administrative structure but does not appropriate funding. "There's no money actually attached," a committee staff member said during the meeting. Members and staff said any funding would need to come in a separate bill or an appropriation to the new fund.

Sen. Anderson moved the measure to the floor. "I move Senate Bill 567 to the floor with a do pass recommendation and that the bill be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference," Anderson said.

On a roll call, Sen. Gorsek voted yes; Sen. Lythmicum voted no; Sen. Patterson voted aye; Vice Chair Anderson voted aye; Chair Reynolds voted aye. The motion passed and the committee sent the bill to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Committee members also handled scheduling for other measures. Work sessions on Senate Bill 62, Senate Bill 142 and Senate Bill 527 were carried over to the committee's next meeting on April 1; staff told members SB 527 is awaiting a dash-2 amendment and associated analysis before further action.

The committee concluded the work session after advancing SB 567. The bill's administrative framework will now be considered by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which will review any requested funding in its budget process.