Standing for Families and Providers: BCDI-Ohio’s Testimony on House Bill 647

Dr. Jasmine Moses 

Black Child Development Institute- Ohio

3/1/2026

House Children and Human Services Committee

Chair White, Vice Chair Salvo, Ranking Member Lett, and members of the House Children and Human Services Committee:

My name is Dr. Jasmine Moses, and I am the Policy Manager of the Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) – Ohio. BCDI-Ohio is a longstanding advocate for children, families, and the early childhood workforce across our state. On behalf of BCDI-Ohio, I am submitting testimony in opposition to House Bill 647.

Ohio’s publicly funded child care program is essential infrastructure for working families. It allows parents to participate in the workforce and ensures children have access to safe, stable environments. Policy changes in this space must be carefully calibrated to strengthen accountability without destabilizing access.

House Bill 647 expands investigative authority related to publicly funded child care and permits summary suspension of licenses when there is “reason to suspect” misuse of public funds. Oversight is necessary for any publicly funded system. However, lowering the threshold to suspicion rather than a substantiated finding increases uncertainty for providers operating within a complex reimbursement and compliance system. Administrative error and intentional fraud must be clearly distinguished in both policy and practice.

The majority of child care providers participating in the publicly funded program are operating in good faith and working within an already complex compliance system. Broad enforcement expansions, absent evidence of widespread systemic abuse, risk placing additional strain on providers who are doing the work with integrity every day. For many, this bill may feel less like support for accountability and more like an added layer of risk in an already challenging environment.

The bill also intends to make departmental decisions regarding publicly funded child care final and not subject to appeal. Removing access to appeal raises serious due process concerns. When providers lose contracts or face recovery actions without a meaningful opportunity for review, families lose access to care, and communities lose the capacity to support children.

Additionally, the bill directs funding toward enhanced automated attendance reviews and data analytics. While modernization can improve oversight, automated systems must include strong safeguards and human review. Payment disruptions or incorrect determinations can destabilize small and community-based providers, particularly those serving low-income families.

Ohio’s child care system requires both accountability and stability. Policies that increase enforcement without maintaining procedural protections risk further strain on a workforce and provider network already operating within narrow margins and lacking support.

For these reasons, BCDI-Ohio opposes House Bill 647 as currently written and urges the committee to consider the unintended consequences these provisions may have on providers and families. Expanding enforcement authority while removing due process protections increases the risk of inconsistent decision-making and potential bias, particularly for smaller providers who may lack the legal or financial resources to respond or seek review. Accountability must not come at the expense of fairness, transparency, and stability.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony and for your continued attention to Ohio’s children, families, and early childhood workforce.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jasmine Moses

Policy Manager, Black Child Development Institute - Ohio