MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The governor has until Wednesday to act on more than 100 pieces of legislation approved by both chambers during the most recent session.
One those is a bill dealing with child care.
Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, said House Bill 4191 provides tax cuts for on-site child care operational expenses at the workplace and provides a variety of supports to help more parents return to the workforce.
“The most important one that will affect the most West Virginians is House Bill 4191, Relating to providing child care generally,” Williams said. “Child care is an issue that our constituents are passionate about all across the state to try to help solve this affordability crisis with child care.”
Child care has been a priority for the House and families for the last several years, with no bills passed. For the first time in five years a bill is sitting on the governor’s desk ready for a signature.
“Now it’s just kind of languishing on the governor’s desk, and I’m disappointed that it’s taking this long,” Williams said.
House Democrats started this legislative session after a series of “kitchen table” meetings with voters across the state, and affordability was a top concern. The cost of child care has been identified as one factor keeping the state workforce participation rate at one of the lowest in the nation.
“I’m really hopeful that he won’t just let it die and he will sign it,” Williams said. “Quite frankly, there’s a lot more we need to do on child care—that was just a step in the right direction, so we need to get this done so we can keep walking in the right direction for West Virginia families.”
Child care issues have been a stated priority in Charleston for the last five years while very little has been done. Williams pointed to a temporary tax credit made available to families that addressed taxes owed to the state but the costs for child care incurred by the family.
“If your deductions and your existing credits get you to the point where you don’t owe, you’re not given that money back,” Williams said. “It’s just to reduce your tax liability so it really doesn’t help that many families.”
Child care supports are expected to improve the workforce participation rate as well as possibly providing an incentive for new families to move to the state. Cutting the personal income tax, providing competitive wages to state workers, and stabilizing PEIA would be a much simpler task with increased revenues.
“Raising a family has become exponentially more expensive,” Williams said. “We talk about wanting families to come here—well, let’s make it affordable to raise one.”