State representatives hold hearing on in-home child care law
Members of a Missouri House committee said Tuesday that a bill placing stricter limits on in-home day care providers is problematic for families but nothing can be done about it until at least January.
House Bill 397 limits the number of children both licensed and unlicensed day care providers can care for. It went into effect Aug. 28 and limited licensed in-home day care providers to 10 children, including any relatives. Previously, relatives were not included in that number. Under the law, unlicensed providers were allowed two additional children.
The bill was inspired by the 2007 death of an infant, named Nathan, who suffocated to death in his crib at a day care. Opponents of the bill argue it’s actually pushing children to unsafe situations and some child care providers said they have had to stop caring for some children.
Parents and day care providers who testified Tuesday talked about the issues House Bill 397 has caused including rising rates for child care to make up for lost income, lost income because providers had to turn away paying customers to continue watching their own children and the less than 30 day notice most providers had to comply with the law.
State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, R-Hallsville, told the committee the bill is a “real problem for Missouri families.”
“It’s good news that we did get a hearing, but we are not finished yet,” concerned mom Heather Conrow said. “When the regular session starts it will be a top priority of the legislators if we keep voicing our opinions and our concerns.”
Many parents and providers at the hearing told ABC 17 News it was disheartening that lawmakers said they could do nothing until the legislative session starts in January.
