After the House Finance Committee released Substitute House Bill 110 on Tuesday, which includes the first round of amendments to the Operating Budget for FY2022-2023, Advocates for Ohio’s Future submitted written testimony to the House Finance Committee applauding several proposals, while cautioning that more can be done to support Ohioans.
AOF was pleased to see an increase in funding available for counties to administer Adult Protective Services, and an additional $5 million awarded to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
While AOF is celebrating partial wins with increased investments in broadband access and new reporting requirements for TANF spending, we urged the House to consider broadband affordability in addition to access, and asked for additional reviews and reporting on how TANF earmarked dollars are spent.
Read AOF’s testimony on Sub-HB 110 HERE.
This week, AOF also submitted written testimony in support of HB 145, which would expand eligibility for publicly funded child care to 200% of the federal poverty level. Ohio’s publicly funded child care system currently sets initial eligibility at 130%, meaning that families above the 130% FPL income level, or who make more than $13.75 per hour, are unable to enter the publicly funded child care system.
“Ohio ranks near the bottom, among all 50 states, when it comes to helping parents afford high-quality child care...Only two states make it harder to qualify for support to afford child care.”
HB 145 would make it so that families earning up to 200% FPL would be eligible to enter the publicly funded child care system. In 2021, 200% of the federal poverty level amounts to $34,840 annually for a single parent and child, and $43,920 for a family of three.
Read AOF’s testimony on HB 145 HERE.