MACo Backs State Support for Maryland's Child Care Providers

On February 22, 2023, Associate Policy Director Brianna January testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 873 – Child Care Provider Stabilization Program – Established.

The House Ways and Means Committee will consider the bill’s cross-file, HB 868, on March 1.

SB 873 establishes the Child Care Provider Stabilization Program to supply additional financial support to licensed child care providers across the State. This legislation is especially timely—the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the shortage of licensed child care providers in the State, and exacerbated existing challenges counties face in providing adequate, long-term support for working families.

From the MACo Testimony:

The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the shortage of licensed child care providers to support the safe care of Maryland’s kids and support the state’s working families. Maryland does not currently have enough licensed providers to meet the needs of such families balancing work, child care, and the ongoing pandemic, as many providers had to cease operation due to public health risk and financial instability associated with COVID-19. Those providers that remain in operation are struggling to stay afloat, and many are unable to provide reliable child care. SB 873 helps address these issues. The bill would establish a Child Care Provider Stabilization Program and Stability Fund to support providers throughout the state. The fund would provide a monthly stipend to providers to support their operations, capital projects, and to offset other expenses. Impactfully, the monthly stipend would be based on the number of children a provider cares for that receive a child care subsidy from the State.