HB 1095 -- Child Care Facilities

Sponsor:  Donnelly

This bill requires the departments of Social Services and Health
and Senior Services, in collaboration with the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education and other key individuals, to
develop, by January 1, 2008, a quality rating system for child
care facilities and early childhood programs.  Licensing will be
the baseline rating, with the highest rating being accreditation.
The rating system will allow an individual to evaluate and select
the best early childhood program, provide accountability
information to policymakers and funders, and provide a guide to
achieving quality outcomes for child care providers.

The Coordinating Board for Early Childhood within the Children's
Services Commission must develop a tiered rating system of
reimbursement for child care subsidies after 50% of all child
care facilities and early childhood programs have been rated.

The Department of Social Services is responsible for:

(1)  Providing technical assistance to child care providers to
prepare for the rating evaluation;

(2)  Developing and distributing information to the public and
child care providers about the rating system and its usefulness;
and

(3)  Posting the ratings on the Internet by January 1, 2009.

The provisions of the bill will expire six years from the
effective date.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am