The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning child care and early learning providers, with a primary focus on licensing standards and exemptions for certain facilities. It exempts public and private preschools from specific municipal special assessments and defines "preschool" as any child care facility licensed under section 402.305. The bill revises licensing standards, including minimum sanitation and safety requirements, and introduces new training mandates for child care personnel. The Department of Children and Families is tasked with conducting personnel screenings within three business days and may issue provisional approvals under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill makes technical changes, deletes provisions related to educating parents and children on specific topics, and expands the types of providers considered in developing plans to eliminate duplicative inspections.

Furthermore, the bill requires county commissions to annually affirm the designation of local licensing agencies by majority vote and mandates the Department of Children and Families, along with local agencies, to create a plan to reduce duplicative inspections. It allows for abbreviated inspections for child care facilities that meet specific criteria, such as having no Class 1 deficiencies for two consecutive years. The bill also clarifies exemptions for certain child care facilities, including those linked to church or parochial schools and those certified by the U.S. Department of Defense. It updates training requirements for prekindergarten instructors in emergent literacy, ensuring alignment with evidence-based strategies in reading. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 738 Filed: 170.201, 402.306, 402.3115, 402.316, 627.70161, 1002.59
S 738 c1: 170.201, 402.306, 402.3115, 402.316, 1002.59
S 738 er: 170.201, 402.306, 402.3115, 402.316, 1002.59