FL S0738

Bill

FL S0738

Child Care and Early Learning Providers

Introduced
02/13/2025

In Committee
04/29/2025

Crossed Over
04/23/2025

Passed
06/25/2025

Dead

Signed/Enacted/Adopted
06/26/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to child care and early learning providers; amending s. 170.201, F.S.; exempting public and private preschools from specified special assessments levied by a municipality; defining the term “preschool”; amending s. 402.305, F.S.; revising licensing standards for all licensed child care facilities and minimum standards and training requirements for child care personnel; requiring the Department of Children and Families to conduct specified screenings of child care personnel within a specified timeframe and issue provisional approval of such personnel under certain conditions; providing an exception; revising minimum standards for sanitation and safety of child care facilities; making technical changes; deleting provisions relating to educating parents and children about specified topics; deleting provisions relating to specialized child care facilities for the care of mildly ill children; amending s. 402.306, F.S.; requiring a county commission to affirm annually certain decisions; amending s. 402.3115, F.S.; expanding the types of providers to be considered when developing and implementing a plan to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary inspections; revising requirements for an abbreviated inspection plan for certain child care facilities, family day care homes, and large family child care homes; requiring the department to review and update certain elements included in such abbreviated inspections; requiring the department to revise the abbreviated inspection plan as necessary; amending s. 402.316, F.S.; providing that certain child care facilities and family day care homes are exempt from specified requirements; deleting a provision requiring a county or city with certain child care licensing programs in existence on a specified date to continue to license certain facilities under certain circumstances; authorizing certain exempt child care facilities to submit an application for licensure to the department or a local licensing agency; requiring the department and the local licensing agency to adopt rules; amending s. 1002.59, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill addresses various aspects of child care and early learning providers in Florida, making several key changes to existing statutes. The bill exempts public and private preschools from certain special municipal assessments and revises licensing standards for child care facilities. It introduces a new definition of "preschool" as any child care facility licensed under section 402.305. The legislation updates personnel screening requirements, mandating that the Department of Children and Families complete background checks within 3 business days and issue a 45-day provisional-hire status if unable to do so quickly. The bill also modifies training requirements for child care personnel, including adding new topics like online training and early literacy development. Additionally, the bill streamlines inspection processes by developing an abbreviated inspection plan for child care facilities that meet certain performance criteria, and it clarifies exemptions for specific types of child care facilities, such as those affiliated with churches or military organizations. The bill removes some previous provisions related to educating parents about specific topics and eliminates standards for specialized child care facilities for mildly ill children. Notably, the bill requires county commissions to annually affirm decisions about local licensing agencies and provides more flexibility in how child care facilities can be licensed and inspected. The changes aim to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of child care services in Florida, with the new provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (1)

Colleen Burton (R)*,

Other Sponsors (1)

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (Senate)

Last Action

Chapter No. 2025-181 (on 06/26/2025)

Official Document

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738

(2 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738
BillText	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/BillText/er/HTML
Analysis - Fiscal Policy (Post-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.fp.PDF
Analysis - Fiscal Policy (Pre-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.pre.fp.PDF
Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Post-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.ahs.PDF
Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services (Pre-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.pre.ahs.PDF
BillText	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/BillText/c1/HTML
Analysis - Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (Post-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.cf.PDF
	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Amendment/831124/HTML
Analysis - Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (Pre-Meeting)	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/Analyses/2025s00738.pre.cf.PDF
BillText	https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/738/BillText/Filed/HTML

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H0047	Child Care and Early Learning Providers	Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 738 (Ch. 2025-181)	Similar To
H7033	Taxation	Died in Appropriations, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 7031 (Ch. 2025-208), CS/SB 738 (Ch. 2025-181)	Similar To

Bill > S0738

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (1)

Other Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary