Bill > SB004

This bill regulates fees charged by child care programs in Colorado, establishing clear guidelines for application, deposit, and wait list fees. The bill defines three types of fees: application fees (charged when submitting a child care application), deposit fees (charged to secure a child care position), and wait list fees (charged to join a waiting list). If a prospective family is not enrolled in a child care program within six months of paying these fees, the fees become refundable, with the department determining a reasonable administrative fee that can be deducted before refunding. Child care programs must provide transparency by sharing fee schedules and refund processes with prospective and enrolled families, and can publish this information on their websites. The bill allows deposit fees but requires they be credited toward future tuition. During inspections or when complaints are filed, the department will check compliance, giving child care programs 30 days to address any issues. The enforcement approach focuses on deliberate violations and will not penalize programs for first-time or good-faith administrative errors. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and may be subject to a potential referendum vote.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-004