CS/CS/HB 7069 - Early Learning and Child Care Regulation Summary

• Renames "school readiness program" to "child care and development program" and updates related terminology ("school readiness" to "child care and development," "family day care home" to "family child care home") throughout Florida Statutes.

• Revises child care licensing standards including requirements for personnel screening, training (40-clock-hour introductory course for facilities, 30-clock-hour for family child care homes), background checks, and expanded training on numeracy, early literacy, and language development.

• Creates certificate of substantial compliance process allowing nonpublic schools and exempt providers to operate VPK and child care programs with department oversight, including inspection rights and enforcement mechanisms.

• Establishes requirements for large family child care homes in zoning regulations, insurance coverage provisions, and abbreviated inspection procedures for facilities with no Class I or II violations in 2+ years.

• Appropriates $1,034,965 in recurring and $11,319 in nonrecurring General Revenue Fund dollars, plus $70,800 from Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund, with 18 authorized full-time positions for implementation; effective July 1, 2014.