1 | 1 | | Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law. |
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2 | 2 | | *ANS281* 03/31/2025 7:43:20 PM ANS281 |
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3 | 3 | | State of Arkansas 1 |
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4 | 4 | | 95th General Assembly A Bill 2 |
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5 | 5 | | Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1950 3 |
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6 | 6 | | 4 |
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7 | 7 | | By: Representative Torres 5 |
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8 | 8 | | By: Senator Dees 6 |
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9 | 9 | | 7 |
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10 | 10 | | For An Act To Be Entitled 8 |
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11 | 11 | | AN ACT TO PROTECT LICENSED FAMILY CHILDCARE HOMES 9 |
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12 | 12 | | FROM TERMINATION OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COVERAGE; TO 10 |
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13 | 13 | | PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LICENSED FAMILY 11 |
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14 | 14 | | CHILDCARE HOMES BY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PROVIDERS; 12 |
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15 | 15 | | AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13 |
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16 | 16 | | 14 |
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17 | 17 | | 15 |
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18 | 18 | | Subtitle 16 |
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19 | 19 | | TO PROTECT LICENSED FAMILY CHILDCARE 17 |
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20 | 20 | | HOMES FROM TERMINATION OF HOMEOWNERS 18 |
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21 | 21 | | INSURANCE COVERAGE; AND TO PROHIBIT 19 |
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22 | 22 | | DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LICENSED FAMILY 20 |
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23 | 23 | | CHILDCARE HOMES BY HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE 21 |
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24 | 24 | | PROVIDERS. 22 |
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25 | 25 | | 23 |
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26 | 26 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24 |
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27 | 27 | | 25 |
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28 | 28 | | SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 88, is amended to add an 26 |
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29 | 29 | | additional subchapter to read as follows: 27 |
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30 | 30 | | Subchapter 6 — Prohibition of Discrimination Against Licensed Family 28 |
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31 | 31 | | Childcare Homes 29 |
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32 | 32 | | 30 |
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33 | 33 | | 23-88-601. Purpose. 31 |
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34 | 34 | | The purpose of this subchapter is to ensure that licensed family 32 |
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35 | 35 | | childcare homes in Arkansas are protected from the termination or nonrenewal 33 |
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36 | 36 | | of homeowners insurance based solely on their operation as licensed family 34 |
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37 | 37 | | childcare homes. 35 |
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38 | 38 | | 36 HB1950 |
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39 | 39 | | |
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40 | 40 | | 2 03/31/2025 7:43:20 PM ANS281 |
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41 | 41 | | 23-88-602. Definitions. 1 |
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42 | 42 | | As used in this subchapter: 2 |
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43 | 43 | | (1) "Homeowners insurance policy" means a type of property 3 |
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44 | 44 | | insurance policy that provides financial protection against certain risks 4 |
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45 | 45 | | associated with homeownership; 5 |
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46 | 46 | | (2) "Licensed family childcare home" means a residence licensed 6 |
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47 | 47 | | by the Department of Education to provide childcare services to a specified 7 |
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48 | 48 | | number of children; 8 |
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49 | 49 | | (3) "Personal liability insurance policy" means an insurance 9 |
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50 | 50 | | policy that provides coverage for claims made against the insured for bodily 10 |
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51 | 51 | | injury or property damage caused by the insured's negligence; and 11 |
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52 | 52 | | (4) "Separate personal liability insurance policy" means an 12 |
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53 | 53 | | insurance policy that provides a minimum coverage of one hundred thousand 13 |
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54 | 54 | | dollars ($100,000) per occurrence specifically for liabilities arising from 14 |
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55 | 55 | | operation of a licensed family childcare home. 15 |
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56 | 56 | | 16 |
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57 | 57 | | 23-88-603. Protection from insurance cancellations — Discrimination 17 |
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58 | 58 | | against licensed family childcare homes prohibited — Minimum personal 18 |
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59 | 59 | | liability insurance required. 19 |
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60 | 60 | | (a) A homeowners insurance provider shall not: 20 |
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61 | 61 | | (1) Cancel or refuse to renew a homeowners insurance policy of a 21 |
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62 | 62 | | licensed family childcare home based solely on the operation of a licensed 22 |
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63 | 63 | | family childcare home if the licensed family childcare home meets or exceeds 23 |
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64 | 64 | | all applicable rules of the Department of Education; or 24 |
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65 | 65 | | (2) Charge rates that exceed the rate amount of a homeowners 25 |
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66 | 66 | | insurance policy with the same square footage or value. 26 |
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67 | 67 | | (b) An operator of a licensed family childcare home shall maintain a 27 |
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68 | 68 | | separate personal liability insurance policy with a minimum coverage amount 28 |
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69 | 69 | | of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per occurrence in addition to the 29 |
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70 | 70 | | operator's homeowners insurance policy. 30 |
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71 | 71 | | (c) A homeowners insurance provider shall provide: 31 |
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72 | 72 | | (1) Written notice to a licensed family childcare home of any 32 |
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73 | 73 | | reason for potential cancellation of the homeowners insurance policy or 33 |
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74 | 74 | | nonrenewal of the homeowners insurance policy; and 34 |
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75 | 75 | | (2) An opportunity for an operator of a licensed family 35 |
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76 | 76 | | childcare home to remedy the situation that resulted in the potential 36 HB1950 |
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77 | 77 | | |
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78 | 78 | | 3 03/31/2025 7:43:20 PM ANS281 |
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79 | 79 | | cancellation of the homeowners insurance policy or nonrenewal of the 1 |
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80 | 80 | | homeowners insurance policy that does not include ceasing operations of the 2 |
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81 | 81 | | licensed family childcare home. 3 |
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82 | 82 | | 4 |
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83 | 83 | | 23-88-604. Responsibilities of operators of licensed family childcare 5 |
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84 | 84 | | homes. 6 |
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85 | 85 | | (a) An operator of a licensed family childcare home shall submit proof 7 |
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86 | 86 | | of the operator's separate personal liability insurance policy to the 8 |
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87 | 87 | | operator's homeowners insurance provider annually or upon renewal of the 9 |
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88 | 88 | | operator's homeowners insurance policy. 10 |
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89 | 89 | | (b) An operator of a licensed family childcare home shall comply with 11 |
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90 | 90 | | all local and state rules and federal regulations regarding the operation of 12 |
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91 | 91 | | a licensed family childcare home to remain eligible for the protections 13 |
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92 | 92 | | described in this subchapter. 14 |
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93 | 93 | | 15 |
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94 | 94 | | 23-88-605. Enforcement. 16 |
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95 | 95 | | (a)(1) The Department of Education shall enforce this subchapter. 17 |
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96 | 96 | | (2) The Department of Education shall promulgate rules to 18 |
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97 | 97 | | implement and administer this subchapter. 19 |
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98 | 98 | | (b)(1) An operator of a licensed childcare facility may file a 20 |
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99 | 99 | | complaint with the Department of Education if the operator believes the 21 |
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100 | 100 | | operator's homeowners insurance provider has violated this subchapter. 22 |
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101 | 101 | | (2) If an operator of a licensed childcare facility files a 23 |
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102 | 102 | | complaint with the Department of Education under subdivision (b)(1) of this 24 |
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103 | 103 | | section shall make a referral to the State Insurance Department. 25 |
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104 | 104 | | 26 |
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105 | 105 | | 23-88-606. Severability. 27 |
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106 | 106 | | If any provision of this subchapter is found to be unconstitutional or 28 |
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107 | 107 | | otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in effect. 29 |
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