(Radio Iowa) - Legislators have overwhelmingly voted to permanently make most child care workers in Iowa -- regardless of their income -- eligible for state assistance to cover child care costs for their own kids.
Child care workers who provide direct services to kids for at least 32 hours a week have been eligible under a pilot program and the bill that's cleared the House and Senate would make the benefit permanent. Lawmakers say the program has helped keep child care workers who have children from leaving for other jobs.
The bill passed the House over a month ago and it cleared the Senate unanimously on Monday.