Committee advances bill to require after‑school care for pre‑K students

Speaker Pro Tempore Tim Jones told a legislative committee that House Bill 1123 "doesn't do a whole lot of things. It just does one thing," and described that single change as requiring school systems that offer prekindergarten and after‑school care for K–5 students to provide comparable after‑school availability to pre‑K students.

Jones said about half of pre‑K classes funded by the state lottery are housed in public school systems and half are in private daycare or childcare facilities, and that 95 school systems offer pre‑K classes. He told the panel the bill targets the roughly 22 school systems that currently do not make after‑school care available to their pre‑K students. "We couldn't really find a good reason for them not to offer it," Jones said, while noting Decal may grant year‑to‑year waivers for districts facing "extraordinary circumstances" as they implement the requirement.

During questions, Senator M. asked whether districts that do not offer after‑school care for pre‑K might hesitate because pre‑K teachers are not on the K–12 QBE salary schedule. Jones responded, "No, in fact, usually it's not the pre‑K teacher necessarily that stays after school. It could be other part‑time employees that they hire or they contracted out." He said Decal collected implementation reasons and that many systems contract or use part‑time staff to provide after‑school care.

Senator Burns spoke in support of the bill and thanked Jones for his leadership on early childhood issues. After a short delay while the committee waited for a member, a committee member moved "do pass" on House Bill 1123 (LC 492546); Senator Mallet seconded. The committee voted by raised hands and the motion passed unanimously. The transcript records that the measure "passed unanimously"; no roll‑call tally or specific yes/no counts were recorded.

The committee adjourned following the unanimous vote. The transcript does not specify the bill's next procedural step or the committee's formal name beyond "the committee."