SPONSOR: Laubinger
This bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish the following for any licensed child care facility:
(1) Training and rules for non-restrained safe sleep policies for children one year of age or older and children with special needs. These policies must include safety procedures for the use of weighted blankets, and prohibit such use on any child under one year of age. Additionally, no weighted blanket used in a child care facility can exceed five pounds.
(2) Safe rest options for non-napping children, which must include an option for non-restrained quiet play activities or other supervised activities; and
(3) A care plan for children with special needs. This care plan must be reviewed, agreed upon, signed, and annually re-evaluated by the child's parents or legal guardians, the child care facility owner or director, the child's primary care provider, and any staff member directly responsible for the care of the child.
The bill provides that any child care facility caring for a child with special needs must train every staff member who is directly responsible for the care of that child on caring for a child with that specific special need. This training can count toward the required annual training hours as part of the licensed child care provider hours of training.
The provisions of this bill do not apply to children under one year of age, as existing statute governs provisions relating to safe sleep policies for children under one year of age.
Statutes affected: