Present law generally requires all persons or entities operating a child care agency to be licensed by the department of human services as a child care agency unless specifically exempted by law. This bill adds that a child care agency that provides child care services through a child development program that provides such services for children of the department of defense personnel from birth through age 12 and is accredited by United States department of defense is not subject to licensure and does not require an exemption from licensing to operate lawfully as long as such agency provides child care services only to an eligible patron. As used in this bill, an "eligible patron" means a patron who qualifies for child development program services, including active duty Military Service members, DoD civilian employees paid from APF and NAF, Reserve Component Military Service members on inactive duty training, combat related wounded warriors, surviving spouses of military members who died from a combat related incident, eligible employees of DoD contractors, other Federal employees, and those acting in loco parentis of such eligible patrons.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 71-3-503