KSHB 41 News reporter Braden Bates covers parts of Jackson County, Missouri, including Lee’s Summit. Send Braden a story idea by e-mail.
A budget proposal in the Missouri legislature would cut the childcare subsidy program by $51 million.
Missouri budget committee pushes $51 million in cuts to childcare subsidy funds
The proposed cuts have some local families and child care providers are on edge as the bill passed through the budget committee and now goes to the state house floor.
Angela True adopted her two grandchildren and enrolled them at the Little Learning Lodge in Lee’s Summit. Both of the kids get their full tuition paid for through the subsidy program.
“If I didn’t have child subsidy help, I wouldn’t be able to work. It’s too expensive,” True said.
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True qualified for the full amount because of the student’s history and adoption status. Other students who fall in the low-income range could only get partial relief.
“I couldn’t afford daycare,” True said. “I mean there’s just no way, like two children probably $450 a week. That’s $1,800 a month. I can’t. I make $2,800 a month. I got to pay rent. I got to pay utilities. I got to buy food. I don’t get any other assistance. Just subsidy assistance.”
State legislators said the proposed budget cuts are designed to ensure the state does not pay 100% of tuition on top of additional incentive funding.
A scenario laid out by House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton, (R-Seneca), asked if students who get 100% of their tuition paid, should they also get the extra funding from state incentives.
“In that instance, state government’s paying more than a private pay individual would be paying for the same service to that provider,” Deaton said.
Missouri House of Representatives
Some of those incentive funds include bonuses for children with special needs and accredited schools.
At a February budget meeting, lawmakers and representatives from the Missouri Elementary and Secondary Education Department said the incentives were designed when students got less that 100% tuition.
Casey Hanson is the Deputy Director of Kids Win Missouri. She said the incentives offer a lot of benefits.
“Those are really needed to care for those special populations,” she said. “I think, similarly with accreditation, if you want higher quality, which is really what we want in this state, providers aren’t able to achieve that necessarily without that extra bump,” said Hanson
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She acknowledged a possible need to look at how the program operates, but not at the expense of its budget.
“I do think we need to be open to conversations about restructuring the program and what that could look like,” Hanson said. “I think there’s a number of different combinations of routes that the General Assembly could take to do that. What we don’t want to talk about, and what’s a non-starter, is cutting $51 million from a program like this.”
Michelle LaPlant owns and runs the Little Learning Lodge and does not receive those added incentives. She said between 35% and 45% of her students receive the subsidy, and she fears the proposed cuts could bring problems for their families.
“It just seems like this is like a backhanded way for them to still not cover childcare,” LaPlant said.
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LaPlant pushed back on the idea that the families relying on subsidies are not deserving of the help.
“I see a lot of comments and memes and things, these parents are not lazy, nonworking people that are mooching off of society,” LaPlant said.”They’re working and they’re trying, they’re going to school, they’re trying to better themselves and do right by them and their kids so that their kids have a better life.”
True said her children’s school has been essential to her ability to hold a stable job.
“They helped me eight-hours-a-day while I went to work to make a living for them,” True said. “They’re the ones who taught them everything.”
On March 1, the subsidy program created a waitlist for the first time. Foster families will still automatically get the funds, but low-income families could be forced to wait.
Another change in the bill would be the way the child care centers are paid. In May, the centers were scheduled to switch to upfront payments at the beginning of the month, similar to how non-subsidy users pay.
However, the bill stated it would continue the current payment system with it based on the child’s attendance.
“With subsidy, providers are paid in arrears after the services are rendered, a month after the services are rendered,” said Hanson. “They’re only paid for up to five absences. This just creates less financial stability for providers.”
The budget proposal has passed through the House Budget Committee and will move to the House floor for discussion.
Read the bill here.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced five appointments to state boards and commissions, including one reappointment.
Rachel Beushausen of Springfield was appointed to the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board.
Beushausen previously served as an organizational and talent development assistant in the human resources department at Missouri State University. She is an advocate for foster care and currently serves as secretary of the Southwest Missouri Foster and Adoptive Parent Advisory Board. She earned an associate degree from Ozarks Technical Community College and later received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drury University.
Alice Fuerst of Blue Springs was appointed to the State Oil and Gas Council.
Fuerst has taught geology as a part-time instructor at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City since 1997. She is a member of the Association of Missouri Geologists and serves as secretary and treasurer of the Missouri section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. Her previous public service includes roles as a member and chairperson of the Blue Springs Solid Waste Management Commission, vice chairperson of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Well Installation Board, and geologist with the Environmental Protection Agency. Fuerst earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Stephens College and a master’s degree in geology from the University of Missouri.
Jennifer “Beth” Houf of Jefferson City was appointed to the Children’s Trust Fund Board.
Houf serves as principal of Capital City High School in the Jefferson City School District. She is a member of several organizations and boards, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, and Lincoln University’s REGAL Advisory Board. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in education curriculum and instruction, an educational specialist degree, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.
Drew Lock of La Plata was appointed to the State Soil and Water Districts Commission.
Lock serves as president of Lock Farms Inc. and manager of Lock Land & Livestock LLC in northeastern Missouri. He is involved in agricultural and community organizations, including the Missouri Farm Bureau Board, where he serves as a member, and the Adair-Schuyler County Farm Bureau, where he serves as president. He is also a member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and the La Plata FFA Advisory Board. Lock earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Northwest Missouri State University.
Craig Stevenson of Hallsville was reappointed to the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board.
Stevenson serves as population health strategy manager for Home State Health and previously worked as director of policy and advocacy for Kids Win Missouri. He also serves on the stewardship committee of Centralia United Methodist Church and is president of the Hallsville R-IV School District Board of Education. Stevenson earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Missouri.
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Sheriff Jeff Crites with the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department has launched a community education series, and the Daily Journal is pleased to share it with our readers. This installment informs about Missouri’s “Book and Release” law.
In 2019 Missouri passed legislation that changed how certain arrests are handled. Think you know what it means? Let’s find out!
Be sure to read the full explanation at the end of the quiz.
Question 1:
Under Missouri’s Book and Release law, what happens to individuals arrested for nonviolent offenses like trespassing or shoplifting?
A) They are held in jail until trial
B) They are immediately released without any charges
C) They are booked, given a court date, and released without being held in jail
D) They must post bail before release
Question 2:
Who decides whether someone is released under this law?
A) The arresting officer
B) The local police department
C) The law itself – officers must follow the statute
D) The Mayor
Question 3:
What is the primary goal of the Book and Release policy?
A) Increase jail occupancy
B) Reduce paperwork for police
C) Minimize unnecessary pretrial detention for low-level offenses
D) Eliminate court appearances
Question 4:
True or False: The Book and Release law applies to all criminal offenses in Missouri.
________________________________________
Answers:
1. C – Individuals are processed (fingerprinted, photographed, etc.), given a court date, and released without being jailed.
2. C – Law enforcement does not make discretionary decisions about release; they are required to follow the statute.
3. C – The law aims to reduce strain on jails and avoid holding people unnecessarily for minor infractions.
4. False – It applies only to certain nonviolent, low-level offenses.
________________________________________
Did you get them all right?
Missouri’s Book and Release legislation was enacted as part of broader criminal justice reforms that took effect in 2019. Specifically, the Missouri Supreme Court implemented new rules that changed how arrests and pretrial procedures are handled for certain nonviolent offenses. These rules were designed to reduce pretrial detention and ensure that individuals charged with low-level crimes are not held in jail because they can’t afford bail.
Missouri’s Book and Release law applies to a specific set of nonviolent, low-level offenses, where the goal is to avoid unnecessary pretrial detention for individuals who pose little risk to public safety. While the law doesn’t list every offense by name, here’s a general breakdown of the types of crimes typically covered:
Common Offenses Eligible for Book and Release
• Trespassing
• Shoplifting or petty theft
• Driving with a suspended license
• Disorderly conduct
• Minor drug possession (e.g., small amounts of marijuana)
• Vandalism (low-dollar damage)
• Public intoxication
• Failure to appear (in some cases)
These offenses are usually classified as misdemeanors or ordinance violations, and the law mandates that officers issue a citation and release the individual after booking, rather than holding them in jail.
Offenses Not Covered
The law does not apply to:
• Violent crimes (e.g., assault, robbery, domestic violence)
• Felony-level offenses
• Crimes involving weapons or threats
• Repeat offenses that indicate a flight risk or danger to the public
Law enforcement does not decide who gets released. The statute itself determines eligibility, and officers are required to follow it. This ensures consistent treatment across jurisdictions and removes discretionary bias from the process.
This information is a factual explanation of Missouri law and established criminal‑procedure rules. The details provided reflect statutory requirements and Missouri Supreme Court mandates, not personal opinion or commentary.
Stay safe and take care!
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