[Vision2020] Loertscher: Idaho's day cares are sufficiently regulated

[Debbie Gray]

>From the Idaho statesman. Looks like his PR people are
trying some damage control for his 'how can we keep
mother's at home' ignorance.
Debbie Gray

Rep. Tom Loertscher: Idaho's day cares are
sufficiently 
regulated
By Rep. Tom Loertscher - Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 03/08/07

My reason for voting against the latest day-care
licensing bill 
comes down
to this: It simply was not needed.

Idaho already has extensive regulations on day-care
operations. 
Moreover,
county and city officials have the authority to pass
more 
stringent
regulations if they wish. Idaho's licensing applies to
centers 
caring for 13
or more children. If cities or counties wanted to have
licensing 
apply to
centers with six or more children — or even two or
more 
children — they
could do so.

In Idaho, it's virtually impossible to have
one-size-fits-all 
day-care
licensing. The Legislature tried the uniform approach
two 
decades ago and
discovered that the needs of Bonneville County
differed sharply 
from the
needs in Ada County. That's why cities and counties
have broad 
authority to
tailor day-care regulations to fit their needs. It
made sense 
two decades
ago, and it makes since today.

But the Legislature also developed a series of
baseline 
regulations, while
leaving the primary responsibility for evaluation and
selection 
of day-care
services with the parents. The standards cover
numerous areas 
that apply to
the safety of kids. They include:

• Fire safety and health standards. Centers must have
adequate 
fire and
smoke alarms, adequate fire extinguishers and adequate
exits. 
The law spells
out child-staff ratio as it applies to fire safety.
Health 
standards require
sanitary conditions and cover areas such as food
service, diaper 
changing
and sleep and play areas. The water supply must be
approved by 
the district
Board of Health. A telephone, or some type of
emergency 
communication
equipment, is required. Day-care centers are subject
to state 
inspections to
ensure they are complying with fire safety and health
standards 
at all
times.

• Criminal history checks. The Department of Health
and 
Welfare is directed
to obtain a criminal history check on all employees
and 
operators who have
contact with children. Registered sex offenders or
criminals 
cannot operate
or work in day-care centers.


• Issuance of license and renewal. Idaho's license is
valid 
for two years
and should be posted in a conspicuous place at the
day-care 
center. Criminal
background checks are repeated in the renewal of
licenses.

• Immunizations. Parents or guardians must supply
statements 
regarding the
immunity to certain childhood diseases.

• Denial, suspension or revocation of license. A
license may 
be taken away
if the Department of Health and Welfare finds the
operator does 
not comply
with the state standards.

• Criminal penalties. Operators violating Idaho's law
are 
subject to
criminal prosecution.

As you can see, Idaho has extensive regulations of
day-care 
centers — and
for good reason. I am vitally concerned about the
safety of kids 
and that is
reflected in the laws we have on the books.

Rep. Tom Loertscher is a Republican from Bone


 
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