Bill > HB328

This bill amends Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 199.896 and 199.8962 to establish and refine licensure requirements and operational standards for child-care centers, aiming to enhance child safety and well-being. Key provisions include making it mandatory for the cabinet to create administrative regulations for license fees, denial criteria based on criminal records, and enforcement procedures, while also clarifying that a license will not be revoked for failing to meet standards until after a six-month notice period, unless there's an immediate threat to health or safety. The bill also introduces requirements for inspectors to allow immediate correction of minor violations, establishes an informal dispute resolution process for providers to challenge deficiencies, and mandates that if a child-care center prevails in an appeal, related records will be expunged. Furthermore, it outlines factors for assessing civil penalties, allows the cabinet to take various enforcement actions for non-compliance, and requires public access to inspection information. New operational standards are introduced for nutrition, physical activity, screen time, sugary drinks, premises, sleeping, first aid, food handling, hygiene, transportation, and staff-to-child ratios, with the cabinet required to conduct annual inspections and make results publicly available online. The bill also clarifies exemptions for certain instructional programs and specifies training requirements for child-care center employees, including annual training on child development and specific training on recognizing and preventing pediatric abusive head trauma. Finally, it prohibits corporal physical discipline in child-care centers and family child-care homes.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb328.html