Sen. Baldacci introduces bill to address child care worker shortages

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, March 21, Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, introduced LD 890, “An Act to Create the Child Care Provider Student Loan Repayment Fund,” before the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business. The bill establishes a fund to be used by child care employees working in underserved areas of the state to pay off their student loans.

“The child care worker shortage that we are facing here in Maine is a challenge that we need to address,” said Sen. Baldacci. “I have received numerous calls from constituents in Bangor and Hermon that there is a major need for more qualified child care employees. The aftermath of the pandemic has only made the situation worse. The need for qualified people is incredibly important. After all, we are putting the lives of our children in the hands of our child care workers and putting our trust and faith in them that they will take care of our kids and make sure they are healthy and safe.”

LD 890 establishes the Childcare Provider Student Repayment Fund to support child care workers across the state in underserved areas with the repayment of student loans. The fund will be used on a first come, first serve basis to provide up to $6,000 annually to a child care provider. In order to be eligible, they must:

• Work in an underserved area of the state;
• Work at least 30 hours a week for a licensed child care facility or a licensed family care provider;
• Have worked as a child care worker for at least 120 days,
• Have incurred student loans; and
• Demonstrate that they have made a payment after reviving the funds to their student loans.

The bill faces further action in committee.