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

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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

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CS/HB 487

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