Committee delays CCAP implementation deadlines and orders county‑level spending data

Senator Cutter opened debate on House Bill 12‑60, saying the bill would ease immediate budget pressure on the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) by moving four implementation deadlines from Aug. 1, 2026, to Aug. 1, 2028 and preserving program features that improve provider stability and family access.

Cutter said the provisions include paying providers based on enrollment rather than attendance, prospective provider compensation rather than retroactive reimbursement, targeted grants or contracts for specific populations and a family cost cap so households spend no more than 7% of income on child care.

Sarah Dawson, director of the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program at the Department of Early Childhood, testified that the deadline alignment would allow the state to use a current federal waiver while working toward fiscal sustainability. Christina Walker of Healthier Colorado said CCAP served 27,598 children and more than 18,000 families in fiscal year 2024–25 and noted that as of April 1, 2026, 20 counties had enrollment freezes and 7 counties had wait lists, with roughly 14,000 potentially eligible children affected.

Senator Bridal offered Amendment L2 to correct a drafting error; the committee adopted the technical change with no opposition. Senator Cutter then moved the bill as amended to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation; the committee recorded a unanimous vote to advance the measure.

The bill now proceeds to the appropriations committee, which will review fiscal details and any budget adjustments needed to sustain the program while preserving the statutory provisions.