1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to child care licensing; modifying child care provider licensing provisions 
1.3 	related to parent access, furnishings, equipment, and materials;proposing coding 
1.4 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 142B.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [142B.68] CHILD CARE CENTER PARENT ACCESS TO PROGRAM.
1.7 	An enrolled child's parent or guardian must have access to the child at any time the child 
1.8 	is in attendance at a child care center unless a court order or other legal documentation 
1.9 	restricts access to the child. A copy of any court order or legal documentation must be kept 
1.10 	in the child's record.

1.11 	Sec. 2. [142B.69] CHILD CARE CENTER REQUIREMENTS FOR FURNISHINGS, 
1.12 	EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIALS.
1.13 		Subdivision 1.General requirement. (a) A child care center must have furnishings, 
1.14 	equipment, and materials as required under this section.
1.15 	(b) The furnishings and equipment must not be hazardous objects and must be:
1.16 	(1) durable, in good repair, and structurally sound and stable;
1.17 	(2) free of sharp edges, dangerous protrusions, points where extremities of a child could 
1.18 	be pinched or crushed, and openings or angles that could trap part of a child;
1.19 	(3) appropriate for the age and size of children who use the furnishings and equipment; 
1.20 	and
1.21 	(4) used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
2.1 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
2.2 	meanings given.
2.3 	(b) "Cognitive development equipment and materials" means equipment and materials 
2.4 	designed to enhance components of intellectual development, such as problem-solving 
2.5 	abilities, observation skills, group skills, and symbol recognition.
2.6 	(c) "Construction or building materials" means equipment and materials to allow children 
2.7 	to build, stack, create, or construct something, such as building blocks, natural materials 
2.8 	like sticks or stones, geometric solids, and other connecting or stacking toys.
2.9 	(d) "Dramatic play equipment" or "practical life activity equipment" means equipment, 
2.10 	such as dress-up clothes, large or miniature play sets, figures, and small and large building 
2.11 	blocks that can be used to design a setting or space that stimulates the child's imagination 
2.12 	and encourages role-playing and learning practical life skills. Practical life skills teach 
2.13 	children how to take care of the space around them and can include setting the table, how 
2.14 	to water and care for plants, and how to clean the table.
2.15 	(e) "Gross motor or large muscle equipment" means equipment that is designed to 
2.16 	enhance large muscle development and coordination, such as outdoor playground equipment, 
2.17 	large boxes, large wheel toys, pull toys, balls, jump ropes, and rocking boats.
2.18 	(f) "Manipulative equipment" means equipment that is designed to enhance fine motor 
2.19 	development and coordination, such as pegs and peg boards, puzzles, beads and strings, 
2.20 	and interlocking plastic forms.
2.21 	(g) "Sensory or tactile stimulation materials" means equipment, other than pictures, that 
2.22 	has different shapes, colors, and textures that are designed to stimulate the child's visual 
2.23 	and tactile senses, such as sand and water activity materials, swatches of different textures 
2.24 	of cloth, and wooden or plastic items of different shapes and colors.
2.25 	(h) "Set" means a collection of toys, items, or materials of sufficient quantity to allow 
2.26 	for a single child to engage in meaningful play.
2.27 		Subd. 3.Accessibility of equipment. (a) Except as provided under paragraph (b), the 
2.28 	center must make materials and equipment accessible to children during all hours of operation 
2.29 	and in sufficient quantity to serve the number of children in attendance that day.
2.30 	(b) Art materials and musical or rhythm instruments may be stored in locations that are 
2.31 	not accessible to children when the materials and instruments are not being used but still 
2.32 	must be made available at least once daily.
3.1 		Subd. 4.Requirements for infants. (a) A center serving infants must have, at a minimum, 
3.2 	the following furnishings:
3.3 	(1) one area rug, carpeted area, or other soft floor covering per classroom;
3.4 	(2) a variety of nonfolding, child-size chairs, including infant seats and high chairs, with 
3.5 	at least one per child or a minimum of four per group;
3.6 	(3) one changing table for every group of 12 infants and each additional group of 12 or 
3.7 	fewer infants;
3.8 	(4) one hands-free, covered diaper container per changing table;
3.9 	(5) one crib and waterproof mattress per child;
3.10 	(6) one linear foot of low, open shelving per child and within reach of children; and
3.11 	(7) evacuation cribs in sufficient quantity to evacuate the number of infants the program 
3.12 	is licensed to serve.
3.13 	(b) A center serving infants must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:
3.14 	(1) one music source per classroom and music selections appropriate for the music 
3.15 	source;
3.16 	(2) two single strollers or one multicapacity stroller or wagon;
3.17 	(3) two pieces of infant mobility equipment that promote the infant's movement;
3.18 	(4) one book per child;
3.19 	(5) six building or stacking materials per group;
3.20 	(6) two pieces of manipulative equipment per infant, such as shape toys and clutch balls;
3.21 	(7) one mirror at least 12 inches by 36 inches in size, made of plexiglass or a similar 
3.22 	plastic or of safety glass, per group;
3.23 	(8) four music-making toys per group;
3.24 	(9) four sensory or tactile stimulation items per group; and
3.25 	(10) play materials representing a diversity of special needs, disabilities, and cultural 
3.26 	and ethnic groups.
3.27 	(c) A center serving infants must have, at a minimum, the following supplies:
3.28 	(1) two sets of sheets for each crib;
3.29 	(2) an adequate amount of disposable paper for the changing table;
4.1 	(3) an adequate amount of diapers;
4.2 	(4) an adequate amount of facial tissue;
4.3 	(5) an adequate amount of single-service towels; and
4.4 	(6) an adequate amount of liquid hand soap.
4.5 		Subd. 5.Requirements for toddlers. (a) A center serving toddlers must have, at a 
4.6 	minimum, the following furnishings:
4.7 	(1) one area rug, carpeted area, or other soft floor covering per classroom;
4.8 	(2) one nonfolding, child-size chair, including high chairs, per child;
4.9 	(3) one changing table for every group of 14 toddlers and each additional group of 14 
4.10 	or fewer toddlers;
4.11 	(4) one hands-free, covered diaper container per changing table;
4.12 	(5) one cot per child, except that mats are acceptable for programs operating during the 
4.13 	day for less than five hours;
4.14 	(6) one linear foot of low, open shelving per child and within reach of children; and
4.15 	(7) child-size tables with sufficient space for each child based on the licensed capacity 
4.16 	of the center.
4.17 	(b) A center serving toddlers must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:
4.18 	(1) arts and crafts supplies, such as clay or play dough, tempera or finger paints, colored 
4.19 	and white paper, paste, collage materials, paint brushes, washable felt-tip markers, crayons, 
4.20 	blunt scissors, and smocks;
4.21 	(2) one book per child;
4.22 	(3) two sets of construction or building materials per group;
4.23 	(4) three pieces of dramatic play equipment or sets of Montessori Practical Life equipment 
4.24 	per group, such as a play kitchen, a woodworking bench, or doll furnishings;
4.25 	(5) materials and accessories as needed to carry out the theme of the activities under 
4.26 	clause (4), such as play food, pots and pans, dishes, or Montessori Practical Life exercises;
4.27 	(6) one double easel or art-making station or area per group;
4.28 	(7) three pieces of durable, indoor, gross motor or large muscle equipment per group;
4.29 	(8) three pieces of durable, outdoor, gross motor or large muscle equipment per group;
5.1 	(9) one set of cognitive developmental equipment and materials, such as puzzles and 
5.2 	matching games, per child;
5.3 	(10) two sets of manipulative equipment per child, such as interlocking plastic forms;
5.4 	(11) seven musical or rhythm instruments per group;
5.5 	(12) one mirror at least 12 inches by 36 inches in size, made of plexiglass or a similar 
5.6 	plastic or of safety glass, per group;
5.7 	(13) one music source per classroom and music selections appropriate for the music 
5.8 	source;
5.9 	(14) four sensory or tactile stimulation items per group; and
5.10 	(15) play materials representing a diversity of special needs, disabilities, and cultural 
5.11 	and ethnic groups.
5.12 	(c) A center serving toddlers must have, at a minimum, an adequate amount of the 
5.13 	following supplies:
5.14 	(1) disposable paper for the changing table;
5.15 	(2) diapers;
5.16 	(3) facial tissue;
5.17 	(4) single-service towels; and
5.18 	(5) liquid hand soap.
5.19 		Subd. 6.Requirements for preschoolers. (a) A center serving preschoolers must have, 
5.20 	at a minimum, the following furnishings:
5.21 	(1) one area rug, carpeted area, or other soft floor covering per classroom;
5.22 	(2) one nonfolding, child-size chair per child;
5.23 	(3) one cot per child, except that mats are acceptable for programs operating during the 
5.24 	day for less than five hours;
5.25 	(4) two square feet of wall or bulletin board display space per child, one-half at child's 
5.26 	eye level;
5.27 	(5) one partially enclosed space equipped for quiet activity per group;
5.28 	(6) one linear foot of low, open shelving per child and within reach of children; and
6.1 	(7) child-size tables with sufficient space for each child based on the licensed capacity 
6.2 	of the center.
6.3 	(b) A center serving preschoolers must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:
6.4 	(1) arts and crafts supplies, such as clay or play dough, tempera or finger paints, colored 
6.5 	and white paper, paste, collage materials, paint brushes, washable felt-tip markers, crayons, 
6.6 	blunt scissors, and smocks;
6.7 	(2) two books per child;
6.8 	(3) four sets of construction or building materials per group;
6.9 	(4) five pieces of dramatic play equipment or sets of Montessori Practical Life equipment 
6.10 	per group, such as a play kitchen, a woodworking bench, or doll furnishings;
6.11 	(5) materials and accessories required as needed to carry out the theme of the activity 
6.12 	under clause (4), such as play food, pots and pans, dishes, or Montessori Practical Life 
6.13 	exercises;
6.14 	(6) one double easel or art-making station or area per group;
6.15 	(7) three pieces of durable, indoor, gross motor or large muscle equipment per group;
6.16 	(8) three pieces of durable, outdoor, gross motor or large muscle equipment per group;
6.17 	(9) one set of cognitive developmental equipment and materials, such as puzzles and 
6.18 	matching games, per child;
6.19 	(10) two sets of manipulative equipment per child, such as puzzles or interlocking plastic 
6.20 	forms or blocks;
6.21 	(11) seven musical or rhythm instruments per group;
6.22 	(12) pictures at child's eye level, mobiles, and other items as needed to create a pleasant 
6.23 	environment and provide sensory stimulation;
6.24 	(13) one mirror at least 12 inches by 36 inches in size, made of plexiglass or a similar 
6.25 	plastic or of safety glass, per group;
6.26 	(14) one music source per classroom and music selections appropriate for the music 
6.27 	source;
6.28 	(15) four sensory or tactile stimulation items per group; and
6.29 	(16) play materials representing a diversity of special needs, disabilities, and cultural 
6.30 	and ethnic groups.
7.1 	(c) A center serving preschoolers must have, at a minimum, an adequate amount of the 
7.2 	following supplies:
7.3 	(1) facial tissue;
7.4 	(2) single-service towels; and
7.5 	(3) liquid hand soap.
7.6 		Subd. 7.Requirements for school-age children. (a) A center serving school-age children 
7.7 	must have, at a minimum, the following furnishings:
7.8 	(1) one area rug, carpeted area, or other soft floor covering per classroom;
7.9 	(2) two square feet of wall or bulletin board display space per child, one-half at child's 
7.10 	eye level;
7.11 	(3) one nonfolding, child-size chair per child;
7.12 	(4) one partially enclosed space equipped for quiet activity per group;
7.13 	(5) one linear foot of low, open shelving per child and within reach of children; and
7.14 	(6) child-size tables with sufficient space for each child based on the licensed capacity 
7.15 	of the center.
7.16 	(b) A center serving school-age children must have, at a minimum, the following 
7.17 	equipment:
7.18 	(1) arts and crafts supplies, such as clay or play dough, tempera or finger paints, colored 
7.19 	and white paper, paste, collage materials, paint brushes, washable felt-tip markers, crayons, 
7.20 	blunt scissors, and smocks;
7.21 	(2) two books per child;
7.22 	(3) four sets of construction or building materials per group;
7.23 	(4) three pieces of dramatic play equipment or sets of Montessori Practical Life equipment 
7.24 	per group, such as a play kitchen, a woodworking bench, or doll furnishings;
7.25 	(5) materials and accessories required as needed to carry out the theme of the activity 
7.26 	under clause (4), such as play food, pots and pans, dishes, or Montessori Practical Life 
7.27 	exercises;
7.28 	(6) three pieces of durable, outdoor, gross motor or large muscle equipment per group;
7.29 	(7) one set of cognitive developmental equipment and materials, such as puzzles and 
7.30 	matching games, per child;
8.1 	(8) five sets of manipulative equipment per child, such as puzzles or interlocking plastic 
8.2 	forms or blocks;
8.3 	(9) pictures at child's eye level, mobiles, and other items as needed to create a pleasant 
8.4 	environment and provide sensory stimulation;
8.5 	(10) five musical or rhythm instruments per group;
8.6 	(11) one music source per classroom and music selections appropriate for the music 
8.7 	source;
8.8 	(12) ten pieces of sports or recreational equipment, such as bats, balls, hoops, and jump 
8.9 	ropes, per group; and
8.10 	(13) play materials representing a diversity of special needs, disabilities, and cultural 
8.11 	and ethnic groups.
8.12 	(c) A center serving school-age children must have, at a minimum, an adequate amount 
8.13 	of the following supplies:
8.14 	(1) facial tissue;
8.15 	(2) single-service towels; and
8.16 	(3) liquid hand soap.