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Michigan Needs Childcare – The Legislature Is Answering

Advocacy News – May 26, 2022

As the need for quality, accessible and affordable childcare continues to negatively impact employees and employers of the Great Lakes State, the Michigan Chamber is working diligently with the Legislature to ensure the voices and concerns of our members are heard and acted upon.

Today, the Michigan Senate Committee on Economic and Small Business Development heard testimony on, and ultimately passed, House Bills 5041-4048 that aim to mitigate some of the state’s childcare concerns by creating more resources for family childcare homes. The passage of the bills comes after the Michigan Chamber signed onto a letter with other stakeholders urging support for this package. Take a look at the letter below:

Dear Senators,

As our communities continue to grapple with the ongoing childcare crisis, we strongly urge support for House Bills 5041-5048.

As you all know, the current situation with childcare across our state and nation is unsustainable. While our state has made great strides to address the issue, thanks to many of you and your support, there is more work to be done.

House Bills 5041-5048 help address these needs with common sense regulatory reform and working to boost supply of quality childcare in our communities. These reforms, in part, increase capacity by raising the ratio thresholds that will allow for additional spots for children in a responsible manner and when certain criteria are met.

These bills will also provide much needed support for new and existing providers by creating the “Family Child Care Network,” which will serve as a regional childcare network to support home-based childcare providers. To help encourage new providers throughout the state, these bills will also require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a contract model for infant and toddler childcare providers that can be funded within the federal childcare and development block grant requirements. Thanks to your leadership, both of these bills are already funded.

These bills will help address a growing crisis that affects not only our current workforce and is a barrier to those seeking to join it, but it also gives our families the foundation they need to prosper. Additionally, childcare providers are largely small, local businesses, and these bills will ensure that we can help them grow, thrive and ultimately, provide more supply in an environment with much demand.

Again, we urge you to support House Bills 5041-5048 and thank you for your consideration.

The package of bills will be considered by the full Senate at a later date.

For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com.

Advocacy News – May 26, 2022

As the need for quality, accessible and affordable childcare continues to negatively impact employees and employers of the Great Lakes State, the Michigan Chamber is working diligently with the Legislature to ensure the voices and concerns of our members are heard and acted upon.

Today, the Michigan Senate Committee on Economic and Small Business Development heard testimony on, and ultimately passed, House Bills 5041-4048 that aim to mitigate some of the state’s childcare concerns by creating more resources for family childcare homes. The passage of the bills comes after the Michigan Chamber signed onto a letter with other stakeholders urging support for this package. Take a look at the letter below:

Dear Senators,

As our communities continue to grapple with the ongoing childcare crisis, we strongly urge support for House Bills 5041-5048.

As you all know, the current situation with childcare across our state and nation is unsustainable. While our state has made great strides to address the issue, thanks to many of you and your support, there is more work to be done.

House Bills 5041-5048 help address these needs with common sense regulatory reform and working to boost supply of quality childcare in our communities. These reforms, in part, increase capacity by raising the ratio thresholds that will allow for additional spots for children in a responsible manner and when certain criteria are met.

These bills will also provide much needed support for new and existing providers by creating the “Family Child Care Network,” which will serve as a regional childcare network to support home-based childcare providers. To help encourage new providers throughout the state, these bills will also require the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a contract model for infant and toddler childcare providers that can be funded within the federal childcare and development block grant requirements. Thanks to your leadership, both of these bills are already funded.

These bills will help address a growing crisis that affects not only our current workforce and is a barrier to those seeking to join it, but it also gives our families the foundation they need to prosper. Additionally, childcare providers are largely small, local businesses, and these bills will ensure that we can help them grow, thrive and ultimately, provide more supply in an environment with much demand.

Again, we urge you to support House Bills 5041-5048 and thank you for your consideration.

The package of bills will be considered by the full Senate at a later date.

For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com.