Bill > SF743

This bill requires the commissioner of human services or children, youth, and families to modify existing child care staff-to-child ratio rules specifically for smaller communities outside the seven-county metropolitan area of Minnesota and four major cities (Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud, and Mankato). The proposed changes would allow child care centers in these areas more flexibility in staffing, including: (1) not requiring a second staff member until groups reach six infants, ten toddlers, 15 preschoolers, or 20 school-aged children, and (2) permitting the grouping of children together during regular hours if the age range among children does not exceed 60 months and certain existing safety requirements are maintained. The bill also provides the commissioner with an expedited rulemaking process, allowing them to use a good cause exempt rulemaking procedure that bypasses some typical administrative rule-making requirements. The goal appears to be addressing potential child care staffing challenges in smaller, less populous areas of Minnesota by providing more operational flexibility to child care centers.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0743&ssn=0&y=2025