The House Economic Development Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on a bill designed to address the lack of access to affordable child care in the state. HB 269, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), would create three separate tax credit programs to help stabilize the industry: for donors to child care facilities, for employers who help pay for employees’ child care, and for child care providers. This is the third year Rep. Shields has introduced this bill, which she hopes will encourage donations and investments that would be used to improve facilities, staff salaries, and training. In prior testimony, Rep. Shields has stated that 94 of Missouri’s 114 counties are in a child care desert.
More than a dozen groups testified in favor of the bill, including child care providers, state and local chambers of commerce, child advocacy groups, the pro-life group Campaign Life, and the MCC. The bill must be voted out of committee before it can be considered by the entire House.