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KS HB2045
Bill
Status
4/11/2025
Primary Sponsor
Insurance
Click for details
AI Summary
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Establishes the Kansas Office of Early Childhood as a new executive branch agency, effective July 1, 2026, to consolidate oversight of child care licensing, home visitation programs, child care subsidies, and the Children's Cabinet under a governor-appointed director
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Eliminates annual license fees for day care facilities and reduces professional development training requirements to a maximum of 10 hours per year for child care home providers
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Lowers staffing requirements by allowing assistant teachers at age 16 with no educational requirements, and program directors/lead teachers at age 18 with a high school diploma plus one of four experience-based criteria (including a non-academic option)
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Creates a waiver process allowing licensed day care facilities to request temporary exemptions from statutory requirements on a case-by-case basis, and authorizes pilot programs to test alternative licensing approaches for up to five years
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Establishes a child care ombudsman position to handle complaints, advocate for parents and providers, and requires annual reporting to the legislature on fund allocation, program outcomes, complaints resolved, and pilot program results
Legislative Description
Reducing certain license fees and training requirements for child care staff, creating a process for day care facility licensees to apply for temporary waiver of certain statutory requirements, authorizing the secretary of health and environment to develop and operate pilot programs to increase child care availability or capacity, transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas office of early childhood and creating day care licensing duties of the director of early childhood.
Last Action
House Approved by Governor on Thursday, April 24, 2025
4/11/2025