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Legislature Passes Bill Expanding Access to Affordable Child Care
JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed Senate Bill 95, sponsored by the Senate Health & Social Services Committee, to improve access to affordable childcare for working families and strengthen Alaska’s workforce. The bill makes childcare more accessible by expanding assistance to more families, supporting high-quality providers, and encouraging businesses to help employees with childcare needs.
The child care grant program was passed in a package of bills by the legislature last year. However, it is at risk of repeal due to a lawsuit concerned the constitutional single subject rule, which requires every bill deal with one subject at a time. SB 95 ensures that existing law, considered and approved by the legislature, stands regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.
Key provisions of SB 95 include:
- Expands the number of families eligible for childcare assistance by raising income limits and increases the cap on the percentage of income a family spends on child care.
- Provides an option for the Child Care Program Office to award grants to high-performing, high-quality child care providers.
- Requires the development of a sliding scale so families can gradually transition off assistance as their incomes rise.
- Requires facilities to be designated as a “quality childcare facility” by the Department of Family Services.
- Prohibits grant-funded providers from denying care based on disability or socioeconomic status.
- Provides that low-income families will receive priority for the grant.
“Access to affordable childcare is essential for Alaska’s working families and for our economy,” said Senator Forrest Dunbar, Senate Health & Social Services Committee Chair, “Senate Bill 95 helps more families afford safe, quality care. This is a meaningful step toward making Alaska more affordable for families and more competitive for employers.”
With childcare shortages costing Alaskan employers an estimated $152 million annually in lost productivity, SB 95 represents a key investment in the state’s workforce and economy.
“thread is thrilled to see SB 95 pass. It has been a challenging few years for child care, and passing this bill acknowledges the importance of supporting more affordable child care in Alaska. thread appreciates the policymakers, including the Governor and legislators, who have prioritized and supported child care solutions,” said Stephanie Berglund, CEO of thread.
Senate Bill 95 now heads to the Governor for his signature.
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