Reps. White, Bryant-Bailey Introduce Legislation to Provide Publicly Funded Childcare Benefits to Childcare Staff Members

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Erika White (D-Springfield Township) and Ashley Bryant-Bailey (D-Cincinnati) recently introduced legislation to provide publicly funded childcare benefits to childcare employees who work at least 20 hours per week. House Bill (HB) 768 allows county Jobs and Family Services offices to exclude family income when determining eligibility for publicly funded childcare. 

"Everyday Ohioans are being priced out of groceries, rent, homeownership, and other necessities. This commonsense legislation provides support for one of our most essential workforces. Ohio childcare workers' median wage is only $13.44 per hour, that's less than $28,000 annually. If we don't support these workers, we can't give Ohioans the high-quality childcare they need," said Rep. White.

"Childcare workers make it possible for parents to go to work and provide for their families, yet too many of them cannot afford care for their own children. Monthly childcare costs in Cincinnati now exceed double the average rent, with families paying over $2,500 a month for infant care alone. The least we can do is give some relief to the very people tasked with providing quality care for our children," said Rep. Bryant Bailey.

By helping childcare workers afford care for their own children, we can strengthen recruitment and retention, stabilize childcare providers, and ensure families across Ohio can rely on safe, consistent care.

HB 768 awaits its first hearing in the House Children and Human Services Committee.