Prince George's County moving toward universal childcare

Prince George's County could be one step closer to having universal childcare. Council Chair Krystal Oriadha is addressing child care affordability in a legislative package being introduced Tuesday called "The Roadmap to Universal Childcare." According to FOX 5’s Stephanie Ramirez, it contains six bills, looking at the issue from at least three angles, starting with creating a nine-member working group to make county childcare recommendations. A second bill, The Child Care Expansion and Quality Improvement Act, would create a childcare navigator position to develop a county strategic plan. The Child Care Building Blocks Act would establish a $500,000 loan program to help centers expand or remain open despite financial challenges. Another bill would create a scholarship program of up to $3,000 per child under three years old for county families inside the Beltway whose household income is less than 30% of the D.C. region’s median income. Also, Oriadha wants to help pay for childcare by applying a $5,000 Use and Occupancy Permit fee for county liquor stores, tobacco shops, firearms retailers and self-storage businesses. The last bill of the package would help families facing hardship by allowing a parent to terminate a childcare contract without penalty if they lose a job, die or are deported.