Indiana lawmakers are considering a boost to day care requirements.
House Bill 1036 would require day cares receiving taxpayer money to follow the same child/staff ratios as licensed facilities.
Senator Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) will review the bill Wednesday. She indicated that some lawmakers are looking into additional regulations for church and home daycares.
“I question that because I am afraid that would drive up the cost potentially of daycare,” Leising explained. The original bill has a nutrition component and Leising hinted that an amendment will be introduced to the bill Wednesday.
The District 42 Senator said, “I am a little worried for instance, some of our church day cares may not have kitchen facilities that may not meet [requirements] to provide prepared lunches for instance.”
Basic training would also be mandatory for staff members regarding safe sleep, first-aid, CPR, child abuse and neglect situations if the bill is passed.
“I want to make sure we don’t do anything [in Indianapolis] that keeps high functioning daycares that are currently very adequetly serving families, that we don’t put them out of business,” Leising said. “Anytime we do that we drive up potentially the cost by minimizing the choices for working mom’s and dad’s.”
Anyone who would like to provide input about the bill to Senator Leising is encouraged to do so by calling (800)-382-9467.
