Members of the Senate Democratic caucus announced their proposal, aimed at “laying the foundation for a strong future for children and parents,” according to their press release.
The proposal has a multi-angled approach:
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- A $5,500 Working Parents Tax Credit for working families with children under the age of three. Eligibility would be based on the existing Earned Income Tax Credit.
- Regardless of income, through the Rx Kids program, moms would receive $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 a month throughout the baby’s first year.
- To tackle the child care crisis, the proposal would:
- Codify the bipartisan Tri-Share program, which splits the cost of care equally among employers, the state, and employees.
- Tie the Child Care Reimbursement Rate to inflation.
- Update licensing requirements for child care centers and remove barriers to opening and operating centers.
