Connecticut House Bill HB05379

Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/20
• Refer: 2/27/20

Caption

An Act Concerning The Allocation Of Slots For State-funded Child Care Centers.

Impact

The amendments would transform how state financial assistance is distributed among child care providers. By permitting allocations for families above the current income threshold, the bill may foster a more diverse enrollment in state-funded programs. Advocates believe this could allow child care centers to maintain financial stability and improve service offerings, given that they can increase their number of paying clients. However, the bill's intent to balance funding could have implications for accessibility for low-income families if the majority of spots are allocated to higher-income families.

Summary

House Bill 05379 proposes amendments to the existing laws governing state-funded child care centers in Connecticut. Specifically, it introduces provisions allowing certain child care operators to allocate up to thirty percent of slots in their centers to children from families exceeding seventy-five percent of the state median income. This measure aims to provide greater flexibility in how state funds are utilized and extends opportunities for higher-income families to access these services, potentially reducing the exclusive focus on low-income families in these programs.

Contention

Opposition to HB 05379 centers on concerns that allowing spaces for families with higher incomes could dilute the original intent of child care assistance programs designed specifically to help disadvantaged groups. Critics argue that this could result in fewer available spots for low-income children, undermining efforts to bridge educational inequalities among socio-economic classes. This has sparked debate over the priorities and effectiveness of state funding in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations in the state.