Bill > S0990

This bill makes several revisions to licensing standards and training requirements for child care facilities and prekindergarten providers in Florida. The key provisions of the bill are: - Defines "preschool" as any child care facility serving children under 5 years old. - Revises the screening and approval process for child care personnel, requiring the Department of Children and Families to complete the screening within 5 business days and issue a provisional 45-day hiring status if the screening is not completed. - Requires the Department to evaluate and revise the regulation of child care facilities to simplify inspections, increase objectivity, and provide more technical assistance. - Allows for abbreviated inspections of child care facilities that have demonstrated consistent compliance. - Expands the definition of "child care" and requires additional insurance coverage for large family child care homes. - Revises training and credential requirements for prekindergarten instructors, including new deadlines and options for online training. - Modifies the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program accountability system, including changes to the program assessment and performance metric calculations. - Provides additional funding and support for the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) Scholarship Program. - Requires intensive reading interventions for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program students with substantial deficiencies.

Budget and Finance

Finance and Tax (S)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/990