A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE TO STUDY SUPPLEMENTAL WAGE SUPPORT AND BENEFITS FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS.

     WHEREAS, in New Mexico, there is a serious shortage of child care workers; and

     WHEREAS, the shortage is even more severe for professionally educated and trained child care workers; and

     WHEREAS, professionally trained child care workers are essential to providing high-quality early childhood programs; and

     WHEREAS, high-quality early childhood programs are necessary to ensure that children are ready for school when they enter kindergarten; and

     WHEREAS, when child care workers gain more education and acquire degrees, they often leave early childhood programs to teach in public schools, where salaries, employee benefits and working hours are substantially better; and

     WHEREAS, employee benefits for child care workers are often low or nonexistent;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interim legislative health and human services committee study the value and impact of providing supplemental wage support and benefits to child care workers, identify methods to finance such wage supports and benefits and report its findings and recommendations to the second session of the forty-seventh legislature.