CHILD CARE Bill targets felons' aid

There are an estimated 50,000 low-income and welfare families who receive state-subsidized child care.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Keeping felons convicted of rape, child molestation and homicide away from young children seems like common sense.
But Pennsylvania Department of Welfare officials don't have a problem paying state subsidies to people convicted of those crimes if they are looking after three or fewer children, said state Sen. Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia, D-4th.
What's in bill: The Pennsylvania lawmaker was in New Castle on Wednesday to promote new legislation that would put an end to that practice, prohibiting welfare officials from paying anyone convicted of a violent crime to watch children.
Schwartz, along with Lawrence County District Attorney Matthew Mangino, talked about her bill at the New Castle Community Y as a group of about six children cared for in the Y's day-care center played in the background.
Schwartz said welfare officials only recently agreed to do criminal background checks on people caring for fewer than three children who receive state funding. That is expected to start July 1.
Number affected: There are an estimated 50,000 low-income and welfare families who receive state-subsidized child care. The providers are typically relatives or neighbors.
"It's bad enough the state is now unknowingly providing funds to convicted violent felons, but its unimaginable that the state would knowingly give public funds to care for children to someone who has been convicted of murder, rape or child molestation," she said.
Schwartz's legislation is now in a Senate subcommittee and she says it should be voted on by both the state House and state Senate before July.
State Sen. Gerald LaValle of Rochester, D-47th, whose district includes most of Lawrence County, says he supports Schwartz's legislation, but hopes state welfare officials will agree to change the policies on their own.
"I think the [Ridge] administration has taken a very poor position on this issue. At one point they didn't even do criminal checks. They need to give these children the protection that they deserve," he said.
Secretary's stance: On Tuesday, state Department of Welfare Secretary Feather O. Houstoun told a Senate appropriations committee that she would support prohibiting certain criminals from receiving the state money.
She originally insisted that the policy was created because "parents, not government, know best" who should care for their children.
Schwartz said she was encouraged by Houstoun's words but still plans to push legislation to prohibit giving state money to child-care providers who are violent felons.