April 19, 2023
Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act Will Create Grants for Local Governments to Partner with Police Departments to Open Child Care Centers Statewide
Sacramento, C.A. — Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (CA-52), David Valadao (CA-22), Josh Harder (CA-09), and Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act, which would authorize a pilot program to provide grants to local governments across California to partner with law enforcement agencies to open much needed childcare centers for peace officers and department employees. Amidst ongoing recruitment and retention struggles in the law enforcement profession and a shortage of childcare providers – which has driven up costs of care – finding affordable care for police officers’ children is particularly challenging given the nonstandard and often late hours required of the profession. On behalf of more than 78,000 public safety members and the more than 955 associations they represent, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) is proud to support this significant investment in law enforcement communities in California and across the country.
“PORAC is excited to partner with Congressmen Peters, Valadao, Harder, and Issa on this new initiative, which will establish accessible and affordable child care for our officers. This funding will help address some of the day-to-day challenges that law enforcement agencies face and improve both recruitment and retention in our profession,” said PORAC President Brian Marvel. “Being a peace officer and putting public safety first requires you to work shifts at all hours of the day and sometimes at a moment’s notice. Especially now during the recent rise in crime, it’s crucial we continue investing in long overdue resources to support our officers and their families. I’m especially proud to see this work already in action in my hometown – where the San Diego Police Officers Association’s has launched a first-in-the-nation childcare center designed to meet the needs of officers with extended hours and affordable rates.”
Law enforcement agencies have struggled in recent years to retain, recruit, and train officers – especially women, who currently constitute only 12 percent of the police force nationally, despite research showing that female officers often foster deeper trust within the communities they serve. By prioritizing investments in childcare, communities across the country will benefit from more supported, diverse peace officers.
“Access to quality, reliable child care is essential to recruitment and retention of the best, most representative, and diverse police force we can have, particularly as we seek to attract more women to the ranks,” said Rep. Peters. “Research shows us that female officers develop deeper trust with communities, use less force, and are less frequently identified in complaints and lawsuits, but child care concerns remain one of the biggest hurdles, according to the 30×30 initiative. San Diego is leading the way to expand child care opportunities for police officers and I am proud to support those efforts at the federal level.”
“Police departments across the Valley have struggled to recruit and retain new officers, resulting in immense pressure on our existing police force and putting the safety of our communities at risk,” said Rep. Valadao. “The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act will make child care more accessible and affordable for our officers who typically work nonstandard schedules, removing a barrier to entry and retention for working parents. I’m proud to support this bipartisan initiative to equip our officers with the tools they need to keep our communities safe.”
The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act, which is modeled after an existing program in California, would establish a pilot grant program to facilitate partnerships between local governments and law enforcement agencies that are working to provide child care services for law enforcement officers. The bill would:
- Provide grants of up to $3 million to assist in establishing and operating childcare programs.
- Require local governments to contribute a matching amount of 10 percent of the total grant to centers in year one, 25 percent in year two, and 33 percent in year three.
- Set aside 20 percent of the total grant funding for small police departments that employ fewer than 200 full time law enforcement officers.
- Authorize $24 million for each of the next 5 fiscal years from 2024 through 2028.
“This is a no brainer – keeping our families safe starts by recruiting and retaining top-tier police officers,” said Rep. Harder. “Making sure our officers have access to quality, affordable child care means we increase the pool of talented, diverse recruits and keeps officers on the streets helping our communities.”
“We have a responsibility to provide our police officers with the tools, training, and equipment they need to safeguard our streets and protect our communities,” said Rep. Issa. “This bill represents a creative and innovative approach to not only advance law and order everywhere it is needed but also allow these brave men and women on the front lines to be both parents and police.”