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 2409, sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), would create three separate tax credit programs to help stabilize the industry:
- For a parent paying for child care, a 75% tax credit for funds paid to a child care provider to improve the quality of childcare facilities, employee training, and salaries.
- For a child care provider, a 30% tax credit similar to the Missouri Works program for use of capital for the improvement and upkeep of facilities.
- For an employer-provided child care assistance tax program, a 30% tax credit providing child care services and costs in-house.
According to ChildCare Aware, 72 out of 115 counties in Missouri are in a child care desert. Rep. Shields hopes that the programs would encourage donations and investments that would be used to improve facilities, staff salaries, and training.
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.