SACRAMENTO – Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) announced today that the California Assembly will continue funding child care services that give working parents the ability to send their children to safe and stable early education programs. The $10 million grant is taken out of the 2013 Assembly operating budget, and it allows for tens of thousands of families statewide to not have to choose between employment and caring for their families.

"Thousands of families all over the state face a Catch-22—go to work to support their children who have to then fend for themselves or lose their jobs so they can take care of their children," said Speaker John A. Pérez. "Which is why I am pleased to announce that the Assembly will be cutting $10 million from its own operating budget in order to close a funding shortfall in child care programs throughout the state and to keep parents in the workforce and their children safe in enriching child care programs."

The money will go toward Stage 3 child care programs, which are reserved for parents who transitioned from assistance to full-time employment and who are taxpayers, but don't make enough money to send their children to child care.

The California Assembly first started funding Stage 3 child care programs in 2010, after then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed its services affecting 81,000 children and 60,000 families. The Assembly contributed $6 million during the 2010-11 session, and then another $11 million for 2011-2012.

Website of Speaker John A. Pérez: www.asmdc.org/speaker

CONTACT: Robin Swanson, (916) 319-2408