As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session S. B. No. 177
2025-2026
Senators Blessing, Timken
To create the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for
Child Care pilot program to provide publicly
funded child care to child care staff members
and to make an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. (A) As used in this section, "child care staff
member" does not include an employee of an approved child day
camp or an administrator, authorized representative, or owner.
(B) The Department of Children and Youth shall establish
the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program
to provide publicly funded child care to child care staff
members. Subject to available funds, the pilot program shall
operate during fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
(C) Under the program, when determining eligibility for
publicly funded child care as described in section 5104.34 of
the Revised Code, a county department of job and family services
shall exclude all of a family's income from that determination
if an applicant for publicly funded child care demonstrates to
the county department that the child's caretaker parent is a
child care staff member who works a minimum of twenty hours per
week. Such an applicant shall otherwise meet the requirements of
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As Introduced
division (A)(2)(a) of section 5104.34 of the Revised Code.
(D) Not later than six months after the conclusion of the
pilot program, the Department shall complete a report on the
information collected and findings from the pilot program. On
completion, the Department shall submit the report to the
Governor and to the General Assembly in accordance with section
101.68 of the Revised Code.
Section 2. All items in this act are hereby appropriated
as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the
credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations
made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year
2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027.
The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to
any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
Section 3.
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A KID DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
BGeneral Revenue Fund
CGRF830412Child Care Grants $20,000,000 $0
DTOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund $20,000,000 $0
ETOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS $20,000,000 $0
CHILD CARE GRANTS
The foregoing appropriation item 830412, Child Care
Grants, shall be used for the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for
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As Introduced
Child Care pilot program described in Section 1 of this act.
An amount equal to the unexpended, unencumbered balance of
appropriation item 830412, Child Care Grants, at the end of
fiscal year 2026 is hereby reappropriated to the same
appropriation item for the same purpose in fiscal year 2027.
Section 4. Within the limits set forth in this act, the
Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts
indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation
made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which
appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from
operating appropriations contained in this act shall be
accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act
of the 136th General Assembly.
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