2015 -- S 0461

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LC001693

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND

MONITORING OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Sosnowski, Metts, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

     (1) High quality child care is an important component of the early education phase of a

young child; and

     (2) Consistent oversight and monitoring of licensed child care facilities is a vital role for

the Rhode Island department of children, youth, and families and should be a priority in order to

maintain a level of quality, guidance and direction among child care providers; and

     (3) The most recent set of rules and regulations for child daycare centers established on

November 11, 2013 by the Rhode Island department of children, youth, and families contain

elements that are consistent with national child care standards and public education facilities.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-72.1 of the General Laws entitled "Licensing and Monitoring of

Child Care Providers and Child-Placing Agencies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the

following section:

     42-72.1-9. Moratorium on the application of November 11, 2013 rules and

regulations. – (a) Any child daycare center licensed and operational prior to November 11, 2013,

shall be subject to the rules and regulations set forth and in effect prior to November 11, 2013, for

the purposes of renewing a child daycare license. Child daycare centers that were licensed and

operational prior to the issuance of the rules and regulations on November 11, 2013, in

accordance with § 42-72.1-3(b) shall be reviewed and evaluated under the rules and regulations in

effect prior to November 11, 2013.

     (b) The department shall not revoke or suspend a license of a child daycare center that

received its license in accordance with the rules and regulations in effect before November 11,

2013, as long as the licensee is in compliance with the department's review standards and

inspection process utilized in issuing the license.

     (c) The department shall work in collaboration with the permanent legislative

commission on child care in Rhode Island to collect and consider public input in an effort to

promulgate a revised and amended set of rules and regulations in accordance with § 42-72.1-3(b).

The department shall issue the amended rules and regulations by August 1, 2016.

     (d) On or after August 1, 2017 all licensed child daycare centers shall comply with the

rules and regulations promulgated by the department in order to receive a new or renewed license.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND

MONITORING OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND CHILD-PLACING AGENCIES

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     This act would impose a moratorium on the application of certain rules and regulations

concerning daycare centers.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001693

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