Rep. Rogers Helps Pass Family Child Care Law

The following is a release from the office of State Rep. John Rogers.

With Walpole’s young families in mind, state Rep. John H. Rogers attended a bill signing ceremony today with Governor Deval Patrick who signed into law a measure which Rogers says will empower our small businesses providing day care and help ease the financial burdens of working families.

“This law empowers Walpole’s two family day care providers that are affected by this new measure and each of these small business owners has advised me that they support it,” Rogers said.

“More importantly, they have told me that any increased state funding they receive will be passed on to their Walpole clients as child care fee reductions,” said Rogers.

The bill affects only home-based child care providers who receive contract reimbursements from the state for income-eligible families who need day care.  According to Rogers, the law does not force any provider to either join a union or pay fees contrary to the assertions of the laws’ critics.

Rogers points to the fact that many small businesses that provide a service to the state are inadequately reimbursed for the service they provide, especially family child care providers who play an invaluable role in the government’s mission to enable young families to leave for work each day, knowing that their children are in good hands.

“The freedom of association is as time-honored as the state’s Constitution itself, giving power to ordinary citizens who share similar beliefs and struggles to band together to speak with one voice against their government when they think they are being treated poorly by their government,” said Rogers.

The law gives child care providers the ability to negotiate as one group or to choose to form a union to collectively bargain adequate rates from the state.  The legislation does not affect day care centers or private day care homes that do no business with the state.