SAINT PAUL — State Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) introduced a bill that aims to help lower the cost of child care from birth to kindergarten.
The Great Start Affordability Act would make a monthly per-child payment to child care providers to reduce the amount families have to pay upfront. Families who make less than 150% of the state median income, about $175,000, would be eligible. Payment amounts would depend on an income-based sliding scale, and 85% of Minnesota families with children under 5 years old would be eligible in some way, according to a news release.
Hauschild said in the release that child care is one of his constituents’ top issues.
“I continue to be astounded by the number of families who approach me about the affordability of childcare," he said. "In many rural communities, childcare quite literally does not exist.”
Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL-Aurora) was one of the House members who introduced the companion bill.
