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For Immediate
Release
4/6/11
Senate Committee Endorses Piccola Bill Improving Safety of Family Day Cares
HARRISBURG – The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee unanimously
approved today legislation sponsored by Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) that
would establish greater protections and an additional layer of security for
parents whose children are in the care of a residential day care provider.
Senate Bill 227 would require all family day care providers to have liability
insurance as a condition of their state certification. In addition, the
legislation would require home care providers to disclose information to parents
about the facility and its record with the Pennsylvania Department of Public
Welfare (DPW). The bill also includes a provision to allow DPW to immediately
close problem day cares or remove children if evidence is found relating to
gross negligence, misconduct or mistreatment of children constituting an
immediate and serious danger to the children's life or health.
This is not the first time Piccola introduced legislation in an effort to
better ensure the safety of children who are cared for in residential-based
child care centers. In the last two legislative sessions, Piccola introduced
bills on behalf of a local family impacted by a personal tragedy due to a day
care provider's negligence and failure to disclose previous violations of the
state welfare code. A similar measure – House Bill 152 – has also been
introduced once again this legislative session by Representative John Payne (R-106).
"Selecting child care is one of the most important decisions a parent or
guardian will make on behalf of his or her child, and they deserve to know their
loved ones are in safe hands throughout the course of a day. But we've seen
from some unfortunate tragedies that our Commonwealth is behind the times when
it comes to regulations monitoring the safety of our home day care providers.
That's why Pennsylvania must bring our procedures into the 21st century," said
Piccola. "The provisions in Senate Bill 227 would hold residential day-care
providers to a new standard to ensure the health and safety of the children in
their care."
A family day care is a child day care center located in a residential home
that provides care to four through six children who are not relatives of the
caregiver. These day cares are self-certifying, which means providers must only
submit a report to DPW stating they are in compliance with all regulations for
certification. Regulations currently encourage family day care homes in the
state to carry liability insurance, but it is not mandated.
Senate Bill 227 now heads to the full Senate for consideration. CONTACT:
Colleen Greer
(717)787-6801
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