EXCERPT FROM: Kansas City InfoZine News
By Staff
Topeka, KS - infoZine - The signing of thse buills brings the total number of bills signed during the 2010 Legislative Session to 165.
Lexie’s Law
S Sub for HB 2356 creates Lexie’s Law and amends current law so that supervision, licensing and inspection requirements for specified child care facilities falls under a single licensure category. The bill eliminates the category of registered "family day care home" and creates the transition process for those homes to be licensed.
The bill also permanently prohibits a child care provider from applying for a new license or from seeking employment under another licensee if the care provider has had his or her license revoked or refused due to being a repeat violator of statutory requirements or has been found to have contributed to the death or serious bodily harm of a child under his or her care.
Inspections will be required when a complaint is received or an application for a new license is received. The Secretary of Health and Environment may inspect a facility more often if the facility has a history of frequent complaints or violations. The bill also requires the establishment of an online information system that would make available to the public the names of licensees, applicants, and the history of citations and substantiated findings.
Under the bill, all individuals that maintain child care facilities would be required to be a high school graduate or equivalent. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) would establish all additional rules and regulations for child care facilities and staff.
Finally, the bill establishes the Maternity Centers and Child Care Facilities Licensing Fee Fund and the proceeds of the Fund could be used only to pay for licensure activities. The bill takes effect upon its publication in the Kansas Statute Book.