Sen. Dan Hall: Committee Passes Bill that Could Unionize Daycare Providers

The following is a column from Sen. Dan Hall, D-District 56. 

State and Local Government 

This week the State and Local Government Committee passed Senate File 778, a bill that could result in the unionization of child daycare providers. On a 7-5 party-line vote, the committee passed the AFSCME-supported bill. 

The Democrat majority rejected several Republican amendments to protect private business owners and the families they serve. These amendments included allowing families to observe contract negotiations, exempting nonmembers from paying union dues, and disclosing information to providers about what unionization means for their business. 

In response to AFSCME's testimony that SF 778 bill was about "raising subsidy rates," Republicans expressed concern that this bill would result in increased costs for families and taxpayers alike. 

Under the bill, even daycare providers who choose not to join the union would still be forced to pay union fees, be subject to the terms and conditions negotiated by the union, and be effectively deemed employees of the state. On Monday (3/11) the bill will be heard in the Health, Human Services, and Housing Committee.