Bill > LB162

This bill establishes the Child Care Safety and Security Act, which aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities for child care and early education programs. The legislation creates a dedicated fund administered by the State Department of Education to provide competitive grants to educational service units, which will then distribute funding to designated local agencies like school districts, health departments, and emergency management agencies. These grants can be used to develop emergency response notification systems, provide safety and reunification procedure training and materials, and create comprehensive security plans. The bill defines key terms such as "child care and early education program" and establishes that these programs can include nonprofit organizations, Head Start programs, and other licensed child care facilities. Each designated agency can receive up to $3,000 annually ($1,000 each for emergency notification systems, safety materials distribution, and safety training). The State Department of Education is required to submit an annual electronic report to the Legislature detailing grant recipients, fund usage, and other relevant information, while ensuring no individual child care program is identified by name. The State Board of Education is also authorized to develop rules and regulations to implement the act, with the overarching goal of aligning child care safety standards with those used in elementary and secondary schools.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59492