Substitute Senate Bill No. 137 seeks to enhance child care services in Connecticut by implementing recommendations from the Office of Early Childhood (OEC). Key provisions include the establishment of the Early Childhood Cabinet, which will now consist of eleven members, including a licensed pediatrician and the project director of the Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration Office. The bill also increases the maximum grant amounts under the Connecticut Smart Start program, raising the operating expenses grant from $5,000 to $6,500 per child and the capital expenses grant from $75,000 to $97,500 per preschool classroom. Additionally, it modifies the licensing requirements for day camps, mandating that they be licensed if they operate for at least three hours per day for three days a week or offer multiple sessions per day.

The bill further strengthens regulations surrounding family child care homes by raising the minimum age for individuals affecting licensing decisions from sixteen to eighteen years and granting the Commissioner of Early Childhood the authority to refuse or revoke licenses for individuals with serious felony convictions. It introduces comprehensive background checks for child care providers and staff every five years, including checks against national and state criminal history records and child abuse registries. Licensed child care centers and group homes are required to notify the OEC of any relevant criminal convictions or placements on the child abuse registry, with penalties for non-compliance. The effective date for most provisions is set for July 1, 2026, while the emergency notification system for youth camps will take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-530
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-530
File No. 492: 10-530