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Committee clears bill letting school‑age childcare grants be used for transportation
Summary
The committee voted 9‑0 to advance House Bill 10‑18, which would let school‑age childcare (SAC) grantees use grant funds for transportation and related allowable expenses when programs operate off‑site. Supporters said the change would expand access, particularly in rural areas.
The Family and Children Services committee advanced House Bill 10‑18 by a unanimous roll call after testimony from program advocates who said transportation is a major barrier to after‑school participation.
Sponsor language described the change as a targeted update to the SAC grant project fund to allow the division of family resources to establish rules for child transportation and allowable expenses for care in facilities that are not the child’s school. Sam Barnett of the Indiana After School Network testified the update ‘‘modernizes how the school age childcare grant can be used by removing these outdated transportation limitations’’ and gives grantees the option to use funds if transportation is a barrier.
Sam Snidman (United Way Central Indiana) also voiced support, calling the bill a ‘‘good bill’’ that should pass. Committee members asked whether allowing transportation spending could crowd out other services; witnesses said the change is additive and expected to be flexible given existing grant maximums.
The roll‑call vote was recorded as 9‑0 in favor, and members noted a fiscal observation that no public school entity had applied for the grant previously, which they hoped the new flexibility would help address.
