SENATE BILL 2374
By Watson HOUSE BILL 2317
By Williams AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49 and Title 71,
relative to child care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1.
(a) For purposes of this act, ''child care business'' means a residential or
commercial place or facility that operates as a child care agency, family child care home,
a group child care home, a child care center, or a drop-in center as those terms are defined in § 71-3-501.
(b) The Tennessee advisory commission on intergovernmental relations (TACIR)
shall complete a study of state and local laws, regulations, and rules that govern the start-up, operation, and expansion of child care businesses in this state. At a minimum,
the study must:
(1) Analyze this state's four (4) largest urban cities; six (6) suburban towns or cities, which must include two (2) suburban towns or cities from each grand division of this state; and six (6) rural towns or counties, which must include two (2) rural towns or counties from each grand division of this state;
(2) Conduct focus groups and interviews of child care business owners and directors to identify problems and document examples that illustrate trends amongst child care businesses in this state; and
(3) Identify laws, regulations, and rules that:
(A) Impose costs, financial burdens, or operating delays on child care business owners or prospective owners;
HB2317
012496
-1-
 (B) Are not necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of
children served or to be served by the child care businesses; and
(C) Are not necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of
residents of the neighborhoods where the child care businesses are located.
(c) All appropriate state departments and agencies shall provide assistance to
TACIR in connection with the study required by subsection (b).
(d) TACIR shall submit a report disclosing findings from the study and recommended legislation to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
the speaker of the senate, and the legislative librarian no later than January 31, 2025.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
-2- 012496