HB 4147 to address child care service issues in the state

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)— From the Capitol, a new push to end a daycare shortage is here in Oklahoma.

For months we've been telling you about daycares struggling to have enough open spots for kids, and parents struggling to keep up with the costs of childcare.

However, a new bill passed in the House Tuesday could address both problems.

"We get at least three to four calls a day of parents of all ages, infants, toddlers, 'schoolagers' trying to find care, before and after care," Director at St. Jude's Dynamic Kids, Kameelah Caldwell, said. "Unfortunately, right now we just can't accommodate their needs."

A struggling industry in Oklahoma, child care services, having to turn families away because they are already at full capacity.

"So, we're currently in a drive trying to raise money so that we can make some modifications to our facilities so that we can accommodate more children," Caldwell said.

Whether it is lack of funds, space, or staff, child care services are calling on state lawmakers to take action and help.

Thankfully, help may be on the way with HB4147 being passed by the House Tuesday.

"There's three children for every one spot in over half the state," Rep. Suzanna Schreiber, D-Tulsa, author of the bill said. "So, when we incentivize that workforce by offering them tax credits, by offering to make sure that their childcare is covered, we increase our number in that workforce and then that opens up slots for kids."

Businesses would receive a 30% tax credit if they give employees direct money to help pay for child care costs, purchase spots at a third-party facility or operate their own.

It would also give childcare workers a $1,000 tax credit, to help attract and retain employees.

"Every single other industry, when we have a shortage, we will think of ways that the state can share hands and cause to incentivize those workers," Rep. Schreiber said. "So, whether that's nurses, whether that's civil engineers, whether it's software programmers, whether it's aerospace manufacturing, we offer credits and all of those. So, this is just a credit to offer the industry that takes care of everybody else so that they can go to work for their children."

Kameelah says if the state could make changes to child care service regulations, it would help greatly as well.

"I would love to see the state or the Department of Human Services maybe make some modifications to some of the rules to help centers to be able to receive more children as long as it's not anything that's unsafe for the children," Caldwell said.

With the approval of Tuesday, HB 4147 now heads to the Senate.