Testing for lead in drinking water in buildings used for child care and granting rule-making authority. (FE)

Current law also requires a person, other than a licensed child care center, to be certified by DCF in order to be eligible to receive payment for providing child care services for an individual who is determined eligible for a Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy. To be certified, current law requires a child care provider to meet minimum requirements established by DCF. Under current rules promulgated by DCF, a child care provider certification is valid for two years unless revoked or suspended, and must be renewed if the provider continues to comply with certification standards.

This bill adds as a minimum requirement for both a child care center license and a child care provider certification that an applicant for a new, renewal, or continued license or certification (applicant) test drinking water for lead contamination in a building used or to be used for child care within six months before submitting the application. The bill defines lead contamination to be a concentration of lead that is greater than 0.005 mg/L. Testing required under the bill must be done in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources.

Under the bill, if a test shows lead contamination, the applicant must continue testing as required by DNR, notify parents of children under its care and supervision of the test results that show the contamination, provide safe drinking water to the facility until the contamination is remediated, and provide proof in its application that the applicant has complied with these requirements. At six-month intervals following the issuance, renewal, or continuation of the license or certification, the applicant must demonstrate to DCF that it remains in compliance with these requirements until a test result shows no lead contamination.