On March 3rd, 2021 MACo Policy Associate Drew Jabin testified before the House Ways and Means Committee to support HB 1307 Education – Child Care Centers and Youth Development Organizations and Programs (Support Youth Development for School-Age Children Act). This bill exempts certain youth development organizations and programs from current regulations in order to provide out-of-school services as the COVID-19 pandemic endures.

From the MACo Testimony:

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact families in Maryland, access to affordable, safe child care opportunities is critically important. HB 1307 would provide a narrow, reasonable, and welcome exception to current regulations in order for certain youth development organizations and departments to provide out-of-school services.

County and nonprofit programs across the state have been requesting an exception of child care licensing during the State of Emergency to be able to provide these necessary service expansions during such a difficult time. Specifically, HB 1307 would allow for certain youth development organizations and departments, such as parks and recreation programs and programs funded and monitored by local management boards, to be exempt.

Maryland county governments all have a common goal of providing for the health and wellbeing of children in their community, and this bill creates a reasonable exemption for county programs to be able to serve more families in Maryland.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2021 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.