Wisconsin Senate Bill SB487

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/9/23
• Refer: 10/9/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

A Department of Children and Families program to make payments to child care programs, a child care partnership grant program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

Impact

The legislation also facilitates a child care partnership grant program, specifically designed to assist businesses that wish to provide child care services for their employees. A notable aspect of this program is the requirement for grant recipients to contribute matching funds of at least 25%, which emphasizes shared responsibility in funding child care improvements. This bill represents a significant investment in child care, with appropriations for fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 indicating a dedicated effort to improve child care quality in the state.

Summary

Senate Bill 487 aims to enhance child care services in Wisconsin by authorizing the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create a program for making monthly payments and per-child payments to certified child care providers and licensed centers. This new initiative will operate alongside the existing Wisconsin Shares program, allowing for increased financial support for child care programs contracted by local school boards. The bill indicates that funding will come from both state appropriations and federal resources, including those from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.

Contention

A point of contention regarding SB487 lies in its decision to repeal existing allocations of TANF funding that previously supported the enhancement of payment rates for child care providers based on quality ratings. Some stakeholders may argue that shifting these funds to the new programs could undermine the quality improvement efforts established under initiatives like YoungStar. Critics may express concerns over whether the proposed funding adequately addresses the varying needs of families and child care providers across the state, further fueling the debate on child care policies.