About 100 at-home day care centers throughout Manatee have long been among the least regulated in the state.
Now, the County Commission is considering a resolution that would force these facilities to become state licensed, a designation requiring stricter staff training and regular inspections.
"It's just a good thing for the community," said Brian Murphy, chairman of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. "It's for the safety of the children. At least they will have someone looking in."
Private day care centers are either "registered" or licensed. Registered facilities must adhere to state child-care regulations, but are inspected only when state officials receive a complaint. About 500 children throughout the county attend registered day care centers.
Licensed centers require more staff training. The state Department of Children and Families inspects them at least twice a year. More than 100 Manatee day care centers are licensed.
The Early Learning Coalition has been pushing for the measure since this spring. The group's efforts were driven in part by the May 2006 drowning of an 18-month-old boy at a registered, but not licensed, Manatee day care center.
Commissioners will consider the proposal at their regular meeting Tuesday.
Home day care facilities may supervise a maximum of 10 children at any given time.
Sarasota County already requires at-home day care facilities to be licensed. Charlotte County does not.
The proposed regulations would not apply to family baby sitters. Rather, the state defines day care centers as settings where two or more unrelated children are regularly supervised in exchange for money.
Full text available at the Herald Tribune
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