MT SB269

Family day-care homes may care for up to 8 children and group day-care homes up to 15 children, with limits of 4 children under age 2 per caregiver; overlap care allows up to 10 children (family) or 19 children (group) for up to 3 hours daily

Providers must complete department-approved orientation training within 3 months covering 13 topics including infectious disease control, safe sleeping practices, emergency preparedness, and child abuse recognition; 16 hours of annual professional development required for those working 500+ hours

Background checks through FBI fingerprinting, sex offender registries, and child protective services required every 5 years for all staff, volunteers with unsupervised contact, and adults residing in the facility

Certain felony convictions (homicide, sexual assault, child abuse, kidnapping, arson) permanently disqualify individuals from working in day-care; other offenses (misdemeanor assault, drug felonies within 5 years) may disqualify based on department discretion

Department of Public Health and Human Services prohibited from adopting administrative rules more stringent than statutory requirements; providers participating in Best Beginnings scholarship program subject to federal compliance inspections