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WV Legislature To Pass Affordable Day Care Bill

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West Virginia will avoid cutting off low-income parents from help affording child day care through the first bill to pass the Legislature this session.

A unanimous House of Delegates sent Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin a $29 million funding measure. It's also the first bill from Tomblin's agenda to pass.

The measure includes $17.4 million to shore up a program that subsidizes child care while low-income parents work or go to school. The money would replace a depleted surplus of federal funds. It would also allow the state to avoid making it more difficult for parents to qualify for the program. It is based on income levels.

The measure also contains $11 million to pay lawyers appointed to represent poor people charged with crimes.

The Senate earlier passed the bill unanimously.