Bill > SF1641

This bill modifies Minnesota's child care licensing rules to provide more flexibility for child care centers in two key areas. First, the bill allows the commissioner of human services to grant variances to staff qualification requirements, provided these variances do not compromise child health and safety. When reviewing such requests, the commissioner will consider the staff person's professional development progress, including their status on the Minnesota career lattice. Second, and most notably, the bill introduces a new provision allowing the commissioner to consider variances for a child care center's licensed capacity limit if the center's indoor space is within 100 square feet of what would typically be required for maximum enrollment, based on the center's staff number and qualifications. To request such a variance, child care centers must submit a formal request following specific guidelines, including explaining why they cannot fully comply with current requirements and detailing alternative measures to meet the rule's intent. The bill emphasizes that variances can be granted or revoked depending on whether they maintain child health and safety standards, and the commissioner's decision on variance requests is final and not subject to appeal.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1641&ssn=0&y=2025