The "Cash Berry Childcare Safety and Quality Rating Act" aims to enhance the safety and quality of childcare facilities in South Carolina by establishing a grading system overseen by the Department of Social Services. This bill mandates the development and implementation of a safety and quality grading system that assigns letter grades (A, B, C, D, or F) to licensed childcare facilities based on various compliance and performance criteria, including cleanliness, incident reporting, and staff qualifications. Facilities are required to display their assigned grade prominently and maintain a standardized placard, which must not be tampered with.

Additionally, the bill requires the creation of a publicly accessible online database that allows parents to view each facility's grade, inspection history, and violation records. Childcare facilities receiving a grade below a "B" can request a reinspection after demonstrating corrective actions, and the Department will establish penalties for noncompliance with the grading display requirements. The Department is tasked with promulgating regulations to implement these provisions within twelve months of the bill's enactment.

Statutes affected:
12/17/2025: 63-13-220
Latest Version: 63-13-220