This bill amends various sections of the Idaho Code related to daycare licensing, specifically revising definitions and safety standards. Notably, it introduces a new definition for "supervision," which outlines specific requirements for monitoring children based on their age, including the use of live video and audio for children who are sleeping. Additionally, the bill clarifies that in family daycare homes or group daycare facilities, the provider's own children aged five or older will not be counted in attendance for the purpose of calculating child:staff ratios, which is a significant change aimed at easing operational constraints for providers.

The bill also emphasizes safety standards for daycare facilities, mandating the presence of adequate fire safety measures, secure storage for firearms, and specific fencing requirements for pools and other bodies of water. It ensures that at least one adult employee with current pediatric rescue breathing and first aid certification is present whenever children are in attendance. The legislation declares an emergency, making it effective from July 1, 2026, to ensure that these updated standards are implemented promptly for the safety and well-being of children in daycare settings.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 39-1102, 39-1109