State Budget Update: Working Parents Pin Hopes On Child Care Funding Bills

Thousands of families face a bleak future this morning, as CalWORKs Stage 3 — which provides child care to low-income working families — ceases operation today. Their only hope lies in two state bills that, if passed, will restore funding to the program. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated the program last October. 

On the first day of the new legislative session, Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) introduced AB 1, which would restore more than $250 million to Stage 3 child care. During his opening remarks, Perez noted the importance of the program to California:

“This is a program that keeps working people working. The folks who utilize this program are the people who have successfully struggled to get themselves off of welfare. They are working to make a better life for themselves and their family, and that is admirable.

“With the Governor’s decision to unilaterally wipe out this program, he put more than 60,000 Californians in danger of having to abandon the jobs they have and go back on welfare simply because they can’t afford child care.

“We will not stand idly by while others force parents back onto the welfare rolls and drive providers to the unemployment line. Failing to act will cost taxpayers far more than the cost of providing childcare."

After Schwarzenegger vetoed funding for Stage 3, a judge in Oakland issued a stay on the program’s closure, giving parents until Dec. 31 to secure other child care assistance. First 5 commissions in counties such as Los Angeles have stepped in to provide short-term support to secure child care for children age 5 and under.

If approved by legislators and signed by new Gov. Jerry Brown, AB 1 would restore Stage 3 funding from a number of sources, including federal Child Care and Development Block Grant funds. Funding for the program would be restored retroactively to Nov. 1.

In the State Senate, Sen. Ellen Corbett (D- San Leandro) introduced a similar piece of legislation, SB 12. Both bills already garnered the support of a number of legislators. Further action is expected on both bills later this week.

For more information, please contact Ruel Nolledo at rnolledo@first5la.org.

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