PRINTER'S NO. 2030
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
219
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CERRATO, KHAN, MUNROE, FRIEL, MADDEN, SCHLOSSBERG,
DONAHUE, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, SANCHEZ, PROBST,
HOHENSTEIN, MADSEN, HANBIDGE, BOROWSKI, KINSEY, T. DAVIS,
KAZEEM, SHUSTERMAN, WARREN, BRENNAN, FLEMING AND STEELE,
SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study of emergency child care and provide recommendations.
WHEREAS, Crisis child care is important to provide for
families in this Commonwealth who find themselves suddenly
unable to provide the nurturing care a child deserves; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth should provide safe emergency child
care options to help parents who face a crisis; and
WHEREAS, Crisis nurseries can take many different forms,
including nurseries, day care centers and community centers; and
WHEREAS, Crisis nurseries provide immediate, temporary relief
for families experiencing challenging life circumstances, such
as health emergencies, situations that place a child at risk of
abuse and neglect or any other parental stressors; and
WHEREAS, Crisis nurseries face the same challenges as other
child care facilities in this Commonwealth and, for the House of
Representatives to be well-informed about the stability of
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crisis nurseries, the challenges faced by child care facilities
must be understood; and
WHEREAS, Currently, child care facilities struggle to recruit
and retain staff across Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Staffing issues are caused, in part, by low wages,
which average $12.43 per hour in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Even with stimulus funding from the COVID-19
pandemic, child care facilities have not been able to meet the
demand for child care; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 60% of Pennsylvania residents live in a child
care desert, defined as an area where there are three times the
number of children than openings at child care centers; and
WHEREAS, There are just 12 crisis nurseries in the
Commonwealth, which is insufficient to support our communities;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania should take all opportunities to
utilize funding made available by the Federal Government,
especially funds that could provide meaningful assistance to
those in crisis; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives should craft policy
informed by a thorough understanding of the resources at its
disposal, and members should be informed when pursuing
legislative solutions; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study of emergency
child care and provide recommendations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission's study
of emergency child care, at a minimum, includes the following:
(1) A review and analysis of the current availability of
emergency child care in Pennsylvania, including the types of
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license under which any emergency child care facilities
operate.
(2) A review and analysis of the challenges that
emergency child care facilities face in expanding service.
(3) A review of any Federal or State funding for
emergency child care programs, including how licensing
impacts eligibility for government support.
(4) A review of the available and potential funding
sources for emergency child care programs under Medicare,
Medicaid and other insurers.
(5) A review of the availability of and funding for
emergency child care in other states in the nation, including
how those states license facilities.
(6) Policy and legislative recommendations that would
allow the Commonwealth to access any available Federal
funding for emergency child care that it does not currently
utilize and that would suggest other ways for Pennsylvania to
support networks of crisis nurseries and emergency child
care.
(7) Any other matters deemed appropriate by the Joint
State Government Commission;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, as part
of its study, establish an advisory committee consisting of the
following members:
(1) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(3) A representative from a county children and youth
agency.
(4) A representative of an organization representing
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county commissioners.
(5) Two individuals who work in an emergency child care
facility.
(6) Two parents who have utilized emergency child care
services.
(7) A representative of an organization of private child
care providers.
(8) A representative of a Statewide nonprofit membership
organization or center of group or family child care
programs;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission present
its report to the House of Representatives no later than 18
months after the adoption of this resolution.
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