This bill proposes an amendment to ARM 37.95.610, which outlines the outdoor space requirements for day-care centers in Montana. The amendment aims to address the insufficient availability of child care in urban areas by revising the current regulations that limit day-care options for working families. The new language specifies that day-care centers must have adequate indoor and outdoor space for the number and ages of children in care, while also allowing for exceptions based on specific circumstances, such as limited outdoor space being compensated by greater indoor space or access to nearby parks and playgrounds.

Key changes include the removal of the requirement for a gym as a compensatory indoor space and the introduction of new criteria for exceptions. These criteria allow for flexibility in meeting outdoor space requirements, particularly for centers located in urban areas with populations over 15,000 or in business districts. The bill emphasizes the importance of direct supervision of children in outdoor areas and aims to create a more accommodating environment for day-care centers, ultimately benefiting parents and their children.