Piccola and Payne Applaud Committee for Endorsing
Family Day Care Legislation, Improving Safety Measures
HARRISBURG – State Senator Jeffrey Piccola (R-15) and Representative John
Payne (R-106) lauded today the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
for unanimously endorsing legislation –
Senate Bill 1421– which would require all family day care home providers
to have liability insurance as a condition of their certification.
In an effort to better ensure the safety of children who are cared for in
residential-based child care centers, Piccola and Payne recently introduced
legislation (Senate
Bill 1421 and
House Bill 2561, respectively) in response to concerns raised by their
constituents, Victoria and Jeff Dougherty of Harrisburg. The Dougherty
family contacted both lawmakers after their son, Warren, was critically
injured while under the supervision of a family day care provider.
“I applaud the Senate committee today for recognizing that by mandating
providers to carry this insurance not only covers the day care in the event
of an accident, but it also provides the parent with an extra level of
security by ensuring enhanced safety at the facility,” Piccola said. “By
taking this important step, the legislation will help prevent future
tragedies for other families.”
Payne, the sponsor of a companion bill in the House, emphasized that
parents should be fully informed of the family day care’s history and
current policies prior to a child’s enrollment with the provider.
“Education is the key to making the safest choice for the care of our most
precious resource which is our children. This is an added layer of security
to protect both the provider and the children who attend day care
programs. With more residential day care providers emerging, and the need
for working families to secure care for their children, this is an important
step to provide more accountability and responsibility,” he said.
A family day care home is a child day care center located in a
residential home that provides care for no more than four to six children
who are not relatives of the caregiver. These types of day cares are
self-certifying, which means that providers must only submit a report to the
Department of Public Welfare (DPW) that states they are in compliance with
all regulations for certification. Regulations currently encourage the
family day care homes in the state to carry liability insurance, but it is
not mandated. The legislation will also require family day care providers
to disclose certain key information to parents upfront, prior to enrollment.
“Our proposals help turn a terrible tragedy into a positive outcome by
simply amending our current law in order to help prevent a similar
heartbreak for others. I am hopeful that my colleagues in the Senate will
quickly move on this legislation,” added Piccola.
CONTACT:
Colleen Greer (Piccola’s Office), (717) 787-6801
Shawne Galer (Payne’s Office), (717) 787-2684
