This act sets forth the Department's authority to issue, suspend, or revoke such licenses, as well as conduct inspections and investigations and to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.

Prescribed pediatric extended care facilities with caregiver staffing ratios of one licensed nurse present for every child present; hospitals, sanitariums, or homes operated for medical treatment or nursing or convalescent care for children; and certain programs licensed by the Department of Mental Health shall not be required to be licensed under this act.

This provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SS#2/SB 862 (2024).

Under current law, any program licensed as a child care provider that provides child care to school-age children located and operated on elementary or secondary school property shall be deemed in compliance with child care licensure requirements relating to safety, health, and fire. This act expands this provision to apply to all licensed programs providing child care to only school-age children, regardless of where such program is located and operated. "School-age children" is defined as any child five years of age or older who is in kindergarten or above. The act further exempt any program serving only children enrolled in sixth grade or above from certain child-care facility licensing requirements.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 899 (2024) and provisions in HCS/SS#2/AB 862 (2024).

SARAH HASKINS