DENVER (AP) - This week’s Bill To Watch in the Colorado Legislature
THE BILL:
Senate Bill 3, expanding the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program.
WHAT IT DOES:
The bill tries to encourage parents to join the workforce by helping them pay for child care. It would extend and expand a pilot program to address what’s called the “cliff effect,” when parents earn too much to qualify for child care subsidies, but not enough to afford child care without government assistance. Coverage would last until children are 36 months old.
WHO WANTS IT?
Democratic senators are leading the effort.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
An estimate from legislative analysts isn’t ready yet. The proposal is not included in the governor’s proposed budget for next year. Republicans are withholding judgment on the proposal until they find out how much it would cost.
WHERE IT STANDS:
The bill awaits a hearing in the Senate Health & Human Services committee.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
“Day care is now actually higher than the average cost of in-state tuition at a Colorado four-year college - and we all agree how expensive college tuition has become.” - Senate President Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora.
READ THE BILL:
https://bit.ly/1aO04Wt
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