New bill provides parents with critical childcare facility information

The California state Assembly recently approved AB-1683, a bill authored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Woodland Hills) that provides parents with direct and timely information about any violations of the state standards or regulations at their children’s daycare facilities.

This bill requires the state Department of Social Services (DSS) to post a notice at a childcare facility when the facility has been inspected and include whether the site visit resulted in citations.

The bill also requires the licensed childcare facility that receives a citation posing an immediate threat to the health, safety and personal rights of children, to post a copy of the licensing report that describes the citation for 30 consecutive days. The posting must be immediately adjacent to the interior side of the main door into the facility. It would also impose an immediate civil penalty of 100 when the facility does not comply with this requirement

The DSS report must be in large type and include whether the violation, if not corrected, will or could become a risk to the health, safety or personal rights of the children; a record-keeping violation that would impact the care of children; or a violation that would impact those services required to meet children’s needs.

Most skilled nursing homes, long-term care facilities, immediate care facilities, and all residential care facilities for the elderly must post their licensing reports. Childcare facilities have not been required to do this.

"AB-1683 will provide parents access to critical information concerning the welfare of their children. Without direct access to the licensing reports and knowledge of regulatory actions, parents do not have the information they need to ensure that their children are receiving good care," Pavley said.