HF 382 (LSB 1479HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 382

BY  COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 8)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to child care center staff requirements for providing flex care to children up to five years of age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES —— FLEX CARE.
   1.  The department of health and human services is directed to amend its administrative rules pursuant to chapter 17A to provide that employees of a child care center who are sixteen years of age or older may, without additional supervision, provide flex care to children up to five years of age.
   2.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Child care” means the same as defined in section 237A.1.
   b.  “Child care center” means the same as defined in section 237A.1.
   c.  “Flex care” means child care provided during designated nap hours and during brief periods when a child care center employee who is eighteen years of age or older is not present to provide supervision.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of health and human services to amend its administrative rules to provide that employees of a child care center who are 16 years of age or older may, without additional supervision, provide flex care to children up to five years of age.
   “Child care” means the care, supervision, and guidance of a child by a person other than the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian for periods of less than 24 hours per day per child on a regular basis, with certain exceptions. “Child care center” means a facility providing child care or preschool services for seven or more children, except when the facility is registered as a child development home. “Flex care” means child care provided during designated nap hours and during brief periods when a child care center employee who is 18 years of age or older is not present to provide supervision.