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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 177
2025-2026
Senators Blessing, Timken
To
create
the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program to
provide publicly funded child care to child care staff members and to
make an appropriation.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
(A)
As used in this section, "child care staff member" does not
include an employee of an approved child day camp or an
administrator, authorized representative, or owner.
(B)
The Department of Children and Youth shall establish the Workforce
Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program to provide publicly
funded child care to child care staff members. Subject to available
funds, the pilot program shall operate during fiscal years 2026 and
2027.
(C)
Under the program, when determining eligibility for publicly funded
child care as described in section 5104.34 of the Revised Code, a
county department of job and family services shall exclude all of a
family's income from that determination if an applicant for publicly
funded child care demonstrates to the county department that the
child's caretaker parent is a child care staff member who works a
minimum of twenty hours per week. Such an applicant shall otherwise
meet the requirements of division (A)(2)(a) of section 5104.34 of the
Revised Code.
(D)
Not later than six months after the conclusion of the pilot program,
the Department shall complete a report on the information collected
and findings from the pilot program. On completion, the Department
shall submit the report to the Governor and to the General Assembly
in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code.
Section
2.
All
items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any
moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund.
For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first
column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are
for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act
are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these
fiscal years.
Section
3.
1
2
3
4
5
A
KID
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
B
General
Revenue Fund
C
GRF
830412
Child
Care Grants
$20,000,000
$0
D
TOTAL
GRF General Revenue Fund
$20,000,000
$0
E
TOTAL
ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS
$20,000,000
$0
CHILD
CARE GRANTS
The
foregoing appropriation item 830412, Child Care Grants, shall be used
for the Workforce Investment Now (WIN) for Child Care pilot program
described in Section 1 of this act.
An
amount equal to the unexpended, unencumbered balance of appropriation
item 830412, Child Care Grants, at the end of fiscal year 2026 is
hereby reappropriated to the same appropriation item for the same
purpose in fiscal year 2027.
Section
4.
Within
the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and
Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount
of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine
the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained.
Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act
shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of
the 136th General Assembly.