SB 372

Under current law, no person may for compensation provide care and

supervision for four or more children under seven years of age for less than 24 hours

a day unless that person obtains a license to operate a child care center from the

Department of Children and Families (DCF). If a person operates a child care center

without a license, DCF may order the person to stop operating the child care center

and, if the person fails to comply with the order, DCF may impose a daily forfeiture

of not less than $10 nor more than $1,000.

This bill permits DCF to order a person who operates a child care center without

a license to stop operating the child care center

and

to submit to random,

unannounced inspections by DCF to ensure that the person is not committing

repeated violations. Under the bill, a person who is ordered to submit to those

inspections is considered to have given consent to any authorized officer, employee,

or agent of DCF to enter and inspect the person's premises, and any refusal to permit

that entry or inspection constitutes grounds for a forfeiture as under current law.

The bill also requires DCF to maintain a toll-free telephone number to receive

reports of alleged unlicensed child care centers and to conduct a public information

and education campaign to promote public awareness of the child care center

licensing requirement, of the benefits of placing a child for care and supervision in

a licensed child care center, and of the possible dangers of placing a child for care and

supervision in an unlicensed child care center.

Finally, the bill authorizes an additional two full-time equivalent positions in

DCF for the purpose of investigating alleged unlicensed child care centers.