Senate Bill No. introduced by D. Lenz seeks to revise and enhance the regulations governing family and group day-care homes in Montana, focusing on health, safety, and caregiver qualifications for providers caring for 3 to 15 children. Key provisions include requirements for maintaining liability insurance, conducting annual fire and safety inspections, and ensuring proper supervision of children. The bill emphasizes parental involvement by mandating regular communication with parents and the display of important information. It also sets specific health and nutrition standards, including vaccination documentation and dietary modifications based on children's needs.

Additionally, the bill introduces new sections detailing caregiver training and professional development, including mandatory orientation training within three months of starting care, and establishes qualifications for providers, such as age, education, and health standards. It mandates background checks for all individuals associated with day-care facilities, specifying that fingerprints be processed by trained personnel and results sent electronically to the Department of Justice. The bill outlines disqualifying offenses and establishes a protocol for notifying the department of any charges against staff members. Furthermore, it allows for administrative reconsideration of background check results and amends existing sections related to the duties of the department overseeing child care, ultimately aiming to enhance safety and oversight in day-care settings.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 52-2-704
SB0269_1(1): 52-2-704
SB0269_1(2): 52-2-704
SB0269_1(3): 52-2-704
SB0269_1(4): 52-2-704
SB0269_1(5): 52-2-704
SB0269_1: 52-2-704
SB0269_2(1): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(2): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(3): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(4): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(5): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(6): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(7): 52-2-704
SB0269_2(8): 52-2-704
SB0269_2: 52-2-704