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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Louise Williams Bishop |
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House Children and Youth Committee approves Bishop child-care legislation
HARRISBURG, Nov. 10 – State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop said the House Children and Youth Committee has approved her bill that would require three state agencies to provide an annual report on child care and early childhood development programs to the state legislature in Pennsylvania.
The bill (H.B. 1977) would require the state departments of Public Welfare, Health and Education to develop the annual report.
Bishop, who is chairwoman of the Children and Youth Committee, said currently there is no requirement in state law for a comprehensive annual report that outlines state and federal child-care and early childhood development programs operating in Pennsylvania, including funding sources and recommendations from parents, employers, providers, educators and the public.
"My bill recognizes the importance of addressing the diverse developmental needs of young children and working families by ensuring that annual information on programs and funding is made available for review and discussion," Bishop said.
Bishop said there are more than 880,000 children under the age of 6 in Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, mothers are working in 63 percent of all households with children under 6.
Bishop said she hopes the bill will soon be considered by the full House.
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