The bill requires
the executive director of
the department of early childhood (department) to
make reasonable efforts to expand and standardize the use of a digital data platform as a centralized digital file system for certain child care provider information (digital provider file system). The digital provider file system must integrate

adopt rules concerning the requirements for licensed child care facilities to maintain up-to-date employee records in
the professional development information system currently administered by the department.
and must house records related to staff background checks and child care provider policy documents, consistent with applicable privacy protections.
     Current law permits the department to authorize or contract with a third party to investigate and inspect a facility applying for certain types of child care licenses. The bill requires the department, on or before July 1, 2026, to begin phasing out its reliance on third parties where feasible and to prioritize the use of department personnel to conduct the investigations and inspections instead.
The bill exempts certain health and sanitation inspections from the phase-out.
The department shall establish standardized training, protocols, and supervision for department personnel and authorized or contracted third parties.
     
The bill permits the department to grant a provisional license for up to 9 months to a child care facility that has satisfied all state-level licensing standards pending resolution of a delay or dispute with a statutory or home rule city, town, city and county, or county where the facility is situated (local governing authority) that prevents compliance with applicable zoning and land use development regulations.
A local governing authority that imposes requirements related to the inspection, permitting, licensing, or approval of a child care center or family child care home beyond the state-level licensing standards (local approval process) shall prioritize
provisionally licensed child care facilities so that

concluding
the local approval process
concludes within 9 months, and limit, or, in certain cases, provide exemptions from,

and limit
associated fees.
     The bill creates the child care licensure
and quality
task force (task force) to study and report on recommendations for a streamlined
and easy-to-use
child care licensure
and quality
system in the state
(study)
. The task force shall report on its
findings and
recommendations before January 1, 2027, to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, the governor, and the department. The performance of the
study

task force's work
is dependent upon the
task force's
receipt of sufficient gifts, grants, and donations.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)