Bill Text: FL H0487 | 2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Licensing Standards for Child Care Facilities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Health Care Appropriations (CGHC) [H0487 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0487-Comm_Sub.html
CS/HB 487
1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to licensing standards for child care
3facilities; providing a short title; amending s. 402.305,
4F.S.; providing minimum licensing requirements for window
5blinds and other window coverings; providing a definition;
6authorizing the Department of Children and Family Services
7to provide certain information regarding window blinds and
8window coverings; providing an effective date.
9
10Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. This act may be cited as the "John F. Serrano,
13Rachel Lou Napier, and Alexandra Ali Safety and Accountability
14Act."
15 Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 402.305, Florida
16Statutes, is amended to read:
17 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.-
18 (5) PHYSICAL FACILITIES.-Minimum standards shall include
19requirements for building conditions, indoor play space, outdoor
20play space, napping space, bathroom facilities, food preparation
21facilities, outdoor equipment, and indoor equipment.
22 (a) Because of the nature and duration of drop-in child
23care, outdoor play space and outdoor equipment shall not be
24required for licensure; however, if such play space and
25equipment are provided, then the minimum standards shall apply
26to drop-in child care. With respect to minimum standards for
27physical facilities of a child care program for school-age
28children which is operated in a public school facility, the
29department shall adopt the State Uniform Building Code for
30Public Educational Facilities Construction as the minimum
31standards, regardless of the operator of the program. The
32Legislature intends that if a child care program for school-age
33children is operated in a public school, the program need not
34conform to standards for physical facilities other than the
35standards adopted by the Commissioner of Education.
36 (b) Minimum requirements for licensure of a child care
37facility shall prohibit the use or installation of window blinds
38or other window coverings with long dangling cords, pull cords,
39or inner cords capable of forming a loop and which thereby pose
40a risk of strangulation to young children. Window blinds and
41other window coverings that have been manufactured or properly
42retrofitted in a manner that eliminates long dangling cords,
43pull cords, inner cords, or the formation of loops that pose a
44risk of strangulation are not prohibited under this subsection.
45Cordless window blinds are recommended and are in compliance
46with this subsection.
47 1. When developing and periodically reviewing minimum
48licensing requirements related to the safety and installation of
49window blinds and other window coverings in child care
50facilities, the department shall review and take into
51consideration the recommendations of the United States Consumer
52Product Safety Commission.
53 2. Child care facilities must properly retrofit existing
54window blinds, window coverings, pull cords, or inner cords in
55accordance with this paragraph by January 1, 2011. For purposes
56of this subparagraph, "properly retrofit" means to modify in a
57manner that eliminates long dangling cords or the formation of
58inner or outer cord loops that pose a risk of child
59strangulation.
60 3. The department may provide information regarding
61reduced-cost or no-cost options for retrofitting or replacing
62unsafe window blinds and window coverings.
63 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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