NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Empty and underutilized school buildings could soon be full again thanks to newly signed legislation aimed at addressing the childcare shortage in Tennessee.

The bill, recently signed by Gov. Bill Lee, will allow childcare agencies to rent or buy vacant or underutilized school buildings and use them as childcare facilities.

"It's really just an easier avenue to find suitable childcare center space. Space is one of the prohibiting factors in growing the childcare industry," said Rebecca Woods, Vice President of Government Relations for Tennesseans for Quality Education.

The legislation was drafted using feedback from childcare providers collected during a statewide study.

"Our study was really robust and hearing from the frontline in what could be done differently to help make it easier to create and expand more childcare seats in Tennessee, and this bill was a reflection of what we heard from the frontline," Woods said.

The legislation will require public school districts to report all vacant and/or underutilized buildings. Then, childcare agencies will be allowed to rent or buy those buildings to open new facilities.

The bill will also cut extra fees for home-based childcare facilities by allowing them to be classified as residences instead of commercial properties.

"When they're treated like a commercial property, there's often cost-prohibitive measures in place that really do not encourage the growth of licensed childcare," Woods said.

Finally, the bill alleviates problems faced by after-school childcare programs.

While advocates are celebrating the legislation, they hope the state continues to address issues impacting childcare, including its workforce.

"We've got to look at solutions that include public and private investment so that childcare can be affordable to working families, and so that we can pay childcare workers a livable wage," Woods said.

The legislation will go into effect July 1.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/new-tn-law-opens-empty-school-buildings-to-childcare-agencies-to-combat-shortage/