AUGUSTA - The Legislature moved closer Monday toward recognizing a newly formed union representing nearly 2,200 people in Maine who care for children in their homes.

Without debate, the House voted 73-65 in favor of a bill that acknowledges the family child care providers' union and authorizes negotiations beginning July 1, 2009. Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 20-15 in favor of the bill, which faced a final round of votes.

The measure represents a crucial step toward commencing collective bargaining between the state and state-licensed child-care businesses, which provide care for 17,000 children, mainly over training, rules and regulations.

"It gives them the ability to have some kind of a voice in the legislative process, particularly around the rule-making process," said Mary Anne Turowski, legislative and political director for the Maine State Employees Association.

Turowski said the bill was a priority for the union this session.

Last October, providers voted 790-125 in favor of being represented by the MSEA, part of Service Employees International Union. But before any kind of negotiations can begin, the Legislature has to enact a statute that acknowledges the union's existence.

The state provides full or partial compensation to all of the child care providers, most of them private, home-based businesses.

Besides gaining more influence in the regulatory process, the providers are expected to also get access to health insurance through SEIU, said Turowski.