Sen. Mike Oliverio, (R) - Monongalia, is the lead sponsor of the bill. Photo Credit: Will Prince/West Virginia Legislative Services
West Virginia Senate Bill 429 aims to bring more childcare workers into the workforce by offering scholarships to cover the cost of care for their own children.
Tammy Cole, owner of Tammy’s Kiddo Corner in Fairmont, says the bill could be life-changing for her. She has operated her daycare for 14 years. While she is committed to keeping her services affordable for families, that commitment comes at a cost.
“I do keep everything as low as I can,” Cole said, “which hurts me also.”
Cole works an extra job while caring for her granddaughter just to make ends meet. She says financial strain affects not only her, but also her employees.
“And with what they make, it makes it very difficult to keep employees,” Cole said. “Because of that, because of what they make, and when they have to pay childcare, it makes it very difficult for them.”
Low wages combined with childcare expenses create a cycle that makes it hard to retain workers in an industry already under pressure.
Senate Bill 429, sponsored by Sen. Mike Oliverio, (R) - Monongalia, would create a scholarship program for childcare workers. The program would cover the cost of care for their own children.
In West Virginia, childcare costs nearly $9,500 per year, or about $37 per day, for one child. Under the bill, childcare workers employed at least 20 hours per week would receive a full subsidy payment for their own child.
Supporters say the measure could help strengthen the state’s workforce overall.
“Our workforce is 50th in the country, so it would help us there,” Oliverio said. “With more people in the workforce, it would increase our personal income tax collections, which would help our budget, help us serve all citizens.”
For Cole, the bill represents more than policy; it represents stability. She says she hopes the legislation passes so she can continue providing care to children in her community while easing the financial burden on childcare workers like herself and her staff.
If approved, eligible families could begin to receive scholarships later this year. The program could cost an estimated $520 million annually.
This article was adapted from a television news story using AI. All reporting, facts and quotes from sources are original. AI was only used to assist with formatting and style for a digital platform.