Bill > HB335

This bill introduces the Child Day-Care Center Protection Act, which aims to ensure the safety of child day-care centers by requiring comprehensive environmental assessments for new and existing facilities. The legislation mandates that anyone seeking to operate a child day-care center must first obtain certifications verifying the property's environmental safety, particularly if the building was previously used by a high-hazard business (such as nail salons, dry cleaning facilities, gasoline stations, or funeral homes). Specifically, operators must get a municipal certification confirming the building's prior use, an indoor contamination assessment from the Department of Health, and an environmental quality certification from the Department of Environmental Protection if the property was previously associated with hazardous substances. Failure to obtain these certifications will result in denial of licensure, with potential fines up to $25,000 for a first offense and $50,000 for subsequent offenses. The bill also establishes a Child Day-Care Center Grant Program to help offset the costs of inspections and certifications, using money from the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund. Existing child day-care centers are exempt from these new requirements, and the act will take effect 60 days after passage, reflecting the state's commitment to protecting children's health and safety by ensuring the environmental quality of day-care facilities.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=335