Legislation aimed at addressing Minnesota’s child care crisis passed its first committee on Thursday. The bill, authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Marys Point), includes a series of provisions designed to support child care providers and encourage new providers to enter the market and ultimately make child care more affordable.

“Finding affordable child care has become next-to-impossible for many Minnesota families – and family child care providers are leaving the industry in droves,” said Senator Housley. “This legislation is about getting to the root of the problem, focused on cutting through the regulatory barriers that have driven thousands of family child care providers from the industry and caused a shortage of affordable child care in our communities – all while keeping the safety of our kids as our number one priority.”

Senate File 2 includes provisions aimed at streamlining the bureaucratic processes for providers by cutting back on overly-egregious correction orders, providing better provider training and support, requiring a “plain language” handbook to guide providers through the regulatory process, and eliminating duplicative and punitive regulations. In addition, the legislation creates a new ombudsperson dedicated to guiding potential and current providers through the various regulatory processes. Finally, the bill includes funding for grants to encourage providers to enter the industry and creates a task force to consider further changes to the law in the areas of licensing, provider recruitment and retainment, and regulation.

The legislation received bipartisan support from the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee and awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee.

“For more than a year, we’ve been having hearings and working with our constituents, advocacy groups, state officials, and other stakeholders on a bipartisan bill that addresses some of the real issues both families and providers are facing when it comes to child care,” Senator Housley continued. “Particularly in rural communities, the shortage of affordable, available child care has reached a crisis level. This bill is a big step forward.”

Senator Karin Housley, of St. Marys Point, represents the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Housley is chairwoman of the Family Care and Aging Committee and is an assistant majority leader.