Senate File 291 - Introduced SENATE FILE 291 BY WEINER , PETERSEN , CELSI , QUIRMBACH , TRONE GARRIOTT , WAHLS , T. TAYLOR , DONAHUE , DOTZLER , BISIGNANO , KNOX , and BOULTON A BILL FOR An Act relating to the waiver of certain fees for child care 1 providers participating in the state child care assistance 2 program. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1920XS (3) 90 dg/rh

S.F. 291 Section 1. Section 237A.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 237A.4 Inspection and evaluation. 3 1. The department shall make periodic inspections 4 of licensed centers to ensure compliance with licensing 5 requirements provided in this chapter , and the local boards of 6 health may make periodic inspections of licensed centers to 7 ensure compliance with health-related licensing requirements 8 provided in this chapter . 9 2. The department may inspect records maintained by a 10 licensed center and may inquire into matters concerning these 11 centers and the persons in charge. 12 3. The department shall require that the center be inspected 13 by the state fire marshal or a designee for compliance with 14 rules relating to fire safety before a license is granted or 15 renewed. 16 4. The department or a designee may periodically visit 17 registered child development homes for the purpose of 18 evaluation of an inquiry into matters concerning compliance 19 with rules adopted under section 237A.12 . 20 5. Evaluation of child development homes under this section 21 may include consultative services provided pursuant to section 22 237A.6 . 23 6. The department shall not require a fee or payment for an 24 inspection pursuant to this section from a child care provider 25 participating in the state child care assistance program 26 established in section 237A.13. 27 Sec. 2. Section 237A.4A, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 28 following new subsection: 29 NEW SUBSECTION . 6. The department shall not require a 30 fee or payment for the licensure of a child care provider 31 participating in the state child care assistance program 32 established in section 237A.13. 33 Sec. 3. Section 237A.5, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 34 following new subsection: 35 -1- LSB 1920XS (3) 90 dg/rh 1/ 3

S.F. 291 NEW SUBSECTION . 6. The department shall not require a fee 1 or payment for a record check of personnel employed by a child 2 care provider participating in the state child care assistance 3 program established in section 237A.13. 4 Sec. 4. Section 237A.12, subsection 3, Code 2023, is amended 5 to read as follows: 6 3. a. Rules relating to fire safety or sanitation for 7 child care centers shall be adopted under this chapter by the 8 state fire marshal in consultation with the department. Rules 9 adopted by the state fire marshal for a building which is 10 owned or leased by a school district or accredited nonpublic 11 school and used as a child care facility shall not differ 12 from standards adopted by the state fire marshal for school 13 buildings under chapter 100 . Rules relating to sanitation 14 shall be adopted by the department in consultation with the 15 director of public health. All rules shall be developed in 16 consultation with the state child care advisory committee. The 17 state fire marshal shall inspect the facilities. 18 b. Rules adopted by the state fire marshal and the 19 department shall not require a fee or payment for the 20 inspection of a child care facility owned or operated by a 21 child care provider participating in the state child care 22 assistance program established in section 237A.13. 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 This bill relates to the waiver of certain fees for child 27 care providers participating in the state child care assistance 28 program. 29 The bill prohibits the department of health and human 30 services (HHS) from requiring a fee or payment for an 31 inspection to ensure compliance with child care facility 32 licensing requirements or for the licensure of a child care 33 facility from a child care provider participating in the state 34 child care assistance (CCA) program. 35 -2- LSB 1920XS (3) 90 dg/rh 2/ 3

S.F. 291 The bill prohibits HHS from requiring a fee or payment for 1 the record check of personnel employed by a child care provider 2 participating in the CCA program. 3 The bill prohibits the state fire marshal and HHS from 4 adopting rules that would require a fee or payment for the 5 inspection of a child care facility owned or operated by a 6 child care provider registered to accept reimbursement from the 7 CCA program. 8 -3- LSB 1920XS (3) 90 dg/rh 3/ 3