SF 5386 - Early Childhood Bill Summary

• Child Welfare & Human Trafficking: Expands definitions and protections related to sex and labor trafficking of children; adds "noncaregiver human trafficking assessments" as distinct from investigations; requires agencies to notify Indian tribes within 24 hours of missing children in care and screen for trafficking victims.

• Child Care Licensing: Implements a weighted risk system for child care licensing with tiered enforcement; allows documented technical assistance instead of correction orders for low-risk violations; maintains child foster residence settings under Department of Human Services rather than transferring to Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

• Department Reorganization & Training: Transfers early childhood, child care, and related programs from Department of Education and Department of Human Services to newly created Department of Children, Youth, and Families; requires training on human trafficking, mental health, and sudden infant death prevention for child foster care providers.

• Appropriations: Allocates $4.967 million (FY 2024) and $27.981 million (FY 2025) to Department of Human Services, including $15 million for child welfare technology system improvements; establishes base level increases for ongoing programs through FY 2027.

• Technical Changes: Renumbers statutes to align with department reorganization; repeals outdated provisions related to child care fix-it tickets and foster care licensing rules.