Federal agencies can subsidize employees' child care expenses under final regulations published by the Office of Personnel Management Tuesday.
The legislation permits agencies to use appropriated funds to help lower-income employees cover the costs of child care in licensed child care centers.
In some areas, child care costs can cost as much as half of a family's gross annual income. "This new legislation can result in better child care choices for federal families," said OPM Director Janice R. Lachance.
The National Treasury Employees Union has already negotiated child care subsidy agreements with agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services and with the IRS, OPM said.
Additional information about the final regulations and a guide to implementing them is available at www.opm.gov.