HB 26-1282

HB 26-1282, which has been signed into law, aims to reduce redundant regulations for school child care centers in Colorado. Currently, these centers are regulated by both the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, leading to overlapping requirements. The bill allows school districts to meet certain regulatory standards by complying with similar rules set by other state agencies or federal guidelines, rather than adhering strictly to duplicative early childhood department regulations. It also includes provisions for playground certifications from public health agencies and annual reviews of waiver processes. This change primarily affects child care centers on school district properties and simplifies their compliance requirements.

Official Summary

The term 'child care center' includes before- and after-school -age programs. and preschool programs. Under current law, a school district's child care centers are regulated by the Colorado department of education (CDE), and by the Colorado department of early childhood (CDEC), among and other agencies.     The bill lists CDEC rule subjects that do not apply to public child care centers operated by school districts because the specified CDEC rule subjects are contradictory to or duplicative of existing CDE or other state agency rules allows child care centers for school-age children operated on school district, district charter school, or institute charter school property to satisfy requirements for staff training or minimum square footage of floor space per child by providing to CDEC documented evidence of compliance with substantially similar requirements imposed by CDE unless CDE's requirements do not meet federal grants-in-aid requirements, in which case, CDEC shall require the child centers to meet federal grants-in-aid requirements.     The bill adds a public health agency to the list of entities that CDEC shall accept certification from as satisfactory proof of valid certification of a playground facility.      The bill directs CDEC to review the process regarding materials waivers and the process for undue hardship appeals at least annually.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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