CHEYENNE - Two bills aimed at boosting private child care in Wyoming cleared the Senate Monday afternoon.

House Bills 95 and 96 now go back to the House for a vote on Senate changes, which include a sharp cut in authorized spending.

The Senate last week slashed more than $3.5 million from HB 96, the appropriations bill, which may trigger appointment of a joint conference committee to compromise on the spending level.

House Bill 95 was approved 17-12, while House Bill 96 was adopted on a 16-13 vote.

Deanna Frey of the Wyoming Children's Action Alliance said Monday that supporters would like to see the original allocations restored.

"But it still is workable, and it gives an opportunity to lay a framework" to bring back to the Legislature, she added.

"At this point and this time we don't think it would behoove us to push that," she said, referring to restoration of the original spending authority.

The main purpose of the bills is to increase the number and quality of child care slots and to educate parents on how to recognize quality facilities. Officials have pointed to lack of child care as a significant impediment to addressing Wyoming's worker shortage.

The bills authorize spending from what's left of $6 million allocated for child care last year. As it now stands, the bill allocates:

* $300,000 for education grants to child care providers, and $300,000 for continuing education training grants.

* $100,000 for business management services.

* $500,000 for parent education and public awareness programs.

* $100,000 for technical assistance to providers.

* $100,000 to family strengthening programs.

* Increases the reimbursement to parents for child care.

* An increase of $1.40 per hour in the reimbursement for care of infants under 1 year or age, and an additional $1 per hour for toddlers between 1 and 2 years old.

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at {M3joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.