Child care assistance eligibility permanently expanded

Lawmakers passed a bill April 10 that eliminates a scheduled sunset date on expanded eligibility for the state’s Child Care Subsidy program.

The program provides a subsidy directly to providers to cover a portion of child care expenses for low-income Nebraska families. Income eligibility guidelines were expanded in 2021 from 130% of the federal poverty level to 185%. That expansion was scheduled to expire Oct. 1.

LB304, sponsored by Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, removes the sunset date and instead makes the current income eligibility level permanent. The bill states legislative intent that the Health Care Cash Fund be used to pay the state’s cost to implement the measure.

The bill passed on a vote of 43-6.