AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to child care.
If enacted, HB2428 could significantly impact Tennessee law by mandating a thorough investigation into childcare availability and affordability. The bill seeks to identify not only the challenges families face in accessing affordable childcare but also potential statutory changes that could alleviate these challenges. Such an initiative could lead to future legislation aimed at improving childcare services, thus enhancing support for working families across the state.
House Bill 2428, sponsored by Moon, aims to address the availability of affordable child care for families with parents who work outside the home. The bill proposes that the commissioner of human services conduct a comprehensive study to explore factors influencing the availability and affordability of childcare options. This includes assessing the impact of inflation and rising costs of living on childcare expenses for working families. The findings from this study are to be compiled into a report, which must be submitted to key legislative committees by December 31, 2024.
While the bill primarily focuses on the study of childcare issues, it opens the door for future discussion about child care policies in the state of Tennessee. Some potential points of contention could arise over how the state intends to implement any recommendations from the study. Stakeholders may have differing opinions on the best approach to improve childcare access and affordability, making this an area for ongoing legislative debate.