Child care plan becomes law

State Rep. Julie Alexander today praised a bipartisan plan to support Michigan families by improving access to affordable child care while preserving safety and quality.

The governor today signed into law various child care reforms, which Alexander, R-Hanover, and the Legislature previously approved. The measures will provide flexibility needed to help providers start — and stay in — business while continuing to prioritize the safety of Michigan children.

“The shortage of affordable child care burdens Michigan parents, in turn burdening and slowing the economy of our state,” Alexander said. “The need is even greater this time of year, when school-age children are on summer vacation. These bipartisan reforms, which I support, will help child care centers serve more families.”

The new laws include common-sense regulatory reforms that will:

• Enable high-quality providers to thrive and expand while holding bad actors accountable.
• Expand access in areas where families live and work by offering a safe path for providers to utilize multi-use buildings.
• Help parents access health and safety information by allowing providers to share certain records online.

State research has shown that 75 percent of Michigan children live in areas with limited access to child care. In addition, 10 counties in the state do not currently have licensed slots at centers that serve children younger than 30 months.

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