SF 2343

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/12/2019 09:06am

A bill for an act
relating to child care; authorizing additional special family child care home licenses;
appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 245A.14,
subdivision 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 245A.14, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Special family day care homes.

Nonresidential child care programs serving
14 or fewer children that are conducted at a location other than the license holder's own
residence shall be licensed under this section and the rules governing family day care or
group family day care if:

(a) The license holder is the primary provider of care and the nonresidential child care
program is conducted in a dwelling that is located on a residential lot;

(b) The license holder is an employer who may or may not be the primary provider of
care, and the purpose for the child care program is to provide child care services to children
of the license holder's employees;

(c) The license holder is a church or religious organization;

(d) The license holder is a community collaborative child care provider. For purposes
of this subdivision, a community collaborative child care provider is a provider participating
in a cooperative agreement with a community action agency as defined in section 256E.31;

(e) The license holder is a not-for-profit agency that provides child care in a dwelling
located on a residential lot and the license holder maintains two or more contracts with
community employers or other community organizations to provide child care services.
The county licensing agency may grant a capacity variance to a license holder licensed
under this paragraph to exceed the licensed capacity of 14 children by no more than five
children during transition periods related to the work schedules of parents, if the license
holder meets the following requirements:

(1) the program does not exceed a capacity of 14 children more than a cumulative total
of four hours per day;

(2) the program meets a one to seven staff-to-child ratio during the variance period;

(3) all employees receive at least an extra four hours of training per year than required
in the rules governing family child care each year;

(4) the facility has square footage required per child under Minnesota Rules, part
9502.0425;

(5) the program is in compliance with local zoning regulations;

(6) the program is in compliance with the applicable fire code as follows:

(i) if the program serves more than five children older than 2-1/2 years of age, but no
more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is educational
occupancy, as provided in Group E Occupancy under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003,
Section 202; or

(ii) if the program serves more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable
fire code is Group I-4 Occupancies, as provided in the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003,
Section 202; and

(7) any age and capacity limitations required by the fire code inspection and square
footage determinations shall be printed on the license; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(f) The license holder is the primary provider of care and has located the licensed child
care program in a commercial space, if the license holder meets the following requirements:

(1) the program is in compliance with local zoning regulations;

(2) the program is in compliance with the applicable fire code as follows:

(i) if the program serves more than five children older than 2-1/2 years of age, but no
more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable fire code is educational
occupancy, as provided in Group E Occupancy under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003,
Section 202; or

(ii) if the program serves more than five children 2-1/2 years of age or less, the applicable
fire code is Group I-4 Occupancies, as provided under the Minnesota State Fire Code 2003,
Section 202;

(3) any age and capacity limitations required by the fire code inspection and square
footage determinations are printed on the license; and

(4) the license holder prominently displays the license issued by the commissioner which
contains the statement "This special family child care provider is not licensed as a child
care center deleted text begin . deleted text end " new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (g) The license holder is the primary provider of care and has located the licensed child
care program in a portion of a building that is used exclusively for the purpose of providing
child care services, if the license holder meets the requirements in paragraph (f), clauses
(1) to (4), and if any available shared kitchen, bathroom, or other space that the provider
uses is separate from the indoor activity area used by the children.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2020 and $....... in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to First
Children's Finance to award subgrants through a competitive grant application process for
child care providers licensed under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision 4,
paragraph (g). Eligible subgrant applicants must consult with the grant recipient or a similar
organization for financing, training, and business development assistance.
new text end