CS/SB 738 — Child Care and Early Learning Providers
by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee and Senator Burton
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
The bill revises and modernizes several requirements related to child care facility licensure, personnel training, facility inspections, and licensure violation enforcement. The bill:
- Allows the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create three classification levels for violations relating to the health and safety of a child and requires a class three violation to be the least serious and must be the same incident at least three times within two years.
- Updates abbreviated inspection standards to include these new classification levels, requires at least two years of consecutive licensure, and requires two full onsite renewal inspections in the most recent two years with no current uncorrected violations or open complaints.
- Requires the DCF to provide criminal history record check results to child care facilities within three business days of receipt.
- Removes the requirement for child care facilities to provide parents with pagers or beepers during drop-in child care; to provide parents with information regarding the influenza virus and the dangers of a distracted adult leaving a child in a vehicle; and to develop a program to assist in preventing and avoiding physical and mental abuse.
- Revises introductory training for child care personnel and requires in-person training for at least one staff person trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Requires the DCF to provide minimum required training coursework online.
- Removes the requirement for the DCF to develop standards for specialized child care facilities for the care of mildly ill children.
- Requires the DCF to issue current or prospective child care personnel a 45-day provisional-hire status upon delayed background screening, provided direct supervision of that person by a fully screened and trained staff member when in contact with children.
- Requires a county commission that elects to license their own child care facilities to annually affirm this decision through a majority vote to designate a local licensing agency.
- Exempts child care facilities and family day care homes certified by the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Coast Guard from licensure in certain instances.
The bill also exempts preschools from special assessments levied by municipalities. Further, the bill provides an exemption from licensing, except for the screening of personnel, for a child care facility that solely provides child care to certain eligible children.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 114-0