COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio lawmaker has requested an investigation into Columbus-area child care centers that receive public funding after claims some programs are committing fraud.
State Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township) asked in a letter that was co-signed by 42 other representatives for the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to further look into publicly funded child care centers. The letter requests increased frequency in “unannounced inspections” at these facilities. Ohio law requires all child care centers to undergo at least one unannounced inspection per year to maintain their licenses.
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Williams also requested auditing attendance and billing submissions for programs and to withhold funding if fraud can be found.
“These allegations raise serious concerns regarding program integrity, the responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and the overall credibility of Ohio’s publicly funded childcare system,” wrote Williams. “Unannounced inspections are an essential tool to identify violations, deter fraudulent practices, and reinforce confidence in the oversight of publicly funded programs.”…