The bill amends section 5104.30 and enacts section 5104.302 of the Revised Code to expand eligibility for publicly funded child care to include foster caregivers and kinship caregivers. Specifically, it removes the previous provision that limited eligibility to families receiving publicly funded child care as of October 1, 1997, and instead includes foster and kinship caregivers as defined in relevant sections of the Revised Code. The bill outlines that these caregivers must be employed or participating in education or training related to the time their child is receiving care, and it specifies that publicly funded child care is only available for children placed with these caregivers.

Additionally, the new section 5104.302 details the types of licensed child care providers that can offer publicly funded child care to foster and kinship caregivers, including child care centers, family child care homes, licensed preschool programs, and licensed school child programs. It also allows for border state child care providers to offer services to individuals residing in Ohio counties that border their state. The bill aims to enhance support for foster and kinship caregivers by ensuring they have access to necessary child care resources.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5104.30