Bill > HB53

This bill modifies the licensure provisions for child care facilities in Missouri by expanding the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's powers and responsibilities. The bill allows the department to grant temporary child care licenses to providers who submit a complete application, pass background checks, and have approved fire safety and sanitation inspections, with these temporary licenses valid for up to twelve months. The legislation also clarifies that licenses will now specify an effective date and whether they are temporary, and provides a new mechanism for child care providers to request variances from existing regulations, with local inspectors able to grant variances subject to departmental approval. Additionally, the bill maintains existing provisions that allow the department to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses based on health and safety concerns, including proximity to registered sex offenders. The bill aims to provide more flexibility in the licensing process while maintaining standards to protect children's welfare, and ensures that any new rules created under this authority must comply with state administrative rulemaking procedures.

Labor and Employment

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB53&year=2025&code=R