Tennessee House Bill HB2822

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/31/24
• Refer: 2/5/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 71, relative to child care payment assistance.

Impact

If enacted, HB2822 would significantly revise how child care payment assistance operates in Tennessee. This bill's provisions suggest an effort to prioritize lower-income households and enhance accessibility to child care services during critical early development years. By capping the contribution made by families, it encourages more families to seek assistance, potentially leading to increased child care enrollment and improving outcomes in child development and well-being.

Summary

House Bill 2822 aims to amend the Tennessee Code Annotated to improve child care payment assistance. The legislation focuses on offering a more equitable and affordable child care system by eliminating co-payment requirements for families with incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, for families earning above this threshold, the bill seeks to cap co-payment amounts at 7% of their household income, aligning with national standards for affordable child care. By instituting these changes, the bill intends to alleviate the financial burden on families in Tennessee reliant on state-supported child care programs.

Contention

While the intention behind HB2822 is to enhance child care access, it may face points of contention regarding its financial implications on the state budget. The requirement for the department to offset any revenue losses associated with the elimination and limitation of co-payments through TEMP funds may raise concerns about the sustainability of funding for these programs. Some may argue that the fiscal responsibility of the state could be compromised, leading to debates on how to best balance family assistance with overall budgetary constraints.