Legislation & Policy Watch

Status: H discussed during public hearing - House Children and Youth
10-29-19 

Jozwiak, Barry (R)
Berks

Would amend the Human Services Code that would exempt municipal recreation programs from the definition of “child day care center” because it is prohibitively costly or even impossible for those facilities to be certified as a day care facility. 

HB 345

Status: Referred to Health, Feb. 1, 2019

Cruz, Angel (D)
Philadelphia

Would require the Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Department of Health, to develop guidelines for managing a child with a life-threatening food allergy. These guidelines would include reasonable accommodations to be made in child care centers to limit exposure to food allergens by children. Child care centers would be required to establish a food allergy policy in accordance with the guidelines and provide a notice of the policy to each enrolled child’s parent or guardian. 

Status: Referred to Health, Jan. 28, 2019

Cruz, Angel (D)
Philadelphia

An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to supervision, providing for lead testing; and, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, providing for lead testing.

Would require child care centers or family child care homes water, paint, dust, and soil to be tested for lead. The department shall not issue an initial license or renew a license for maintaining, operating and conducting a child care center or family child care home if the lead certification and lead inspection indicate levels in excess of the levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

HB 309, PN 0911

November 18, 2019, Set on the House Calendar

Mehaffie, Thomas L.(R)

Dauphin County(Part)

An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to supervision, further providing for definitions and providing for Keystone STARS Program participants; and, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, further providing for definitions and for fees and providing for Keystone STARS Program participants.

Would require programs to post STAR level on their web-site; provide information in writing to parents at application and enrollment about their STAR level; require posting of STAR level on a public facing window or at the entrance.

SB 39
 
Status: Referred to Senate Health & Human Services Committee
Jan. 11, 2019

Schwank, Judith L. (D)
 
Berks County (Part)

An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to supervision, providing for lead testing in children's institutions; and, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, providing for lead testing in child day care centers and family child care homes.
 
Requires lead testing in child day care centers and family child care homes.