HLS 12RS-1454 ORIGINAL
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 993
BY REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK WILLIAMS
CHILD DAY CARE: Requires day care facilities to institute a minimum daily level of
physical activity and maximum daily level of sedentary activity for children in their
care
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 46:1430, relative to licensed child day care facilities; to provide for a2
minimum standard for child physical activity; to provide for a limitation on certain3
sedentary activities; to provide for duties of the Louisiana Advisory Council on Child4
Care and Early Education; to provide relative to definitions, standards, and5
guidelines for physical activity programs; to authorize the promulgation of rules; and6
to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 46:1430 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
ยง1430. Child physical activity requirements; exceptions10
A. For the purposes of this Section, "screen time" shall mean a sedentary11
activity by a child which involves the use of an electronic device, including but not12
limited to:13
(1) A television set.14
(2) A device which plays movies or other video content.15
(3) A computer.16
(4) A video game device.17
(5) A handheld electronic device.18 HLS 12RS-1454 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 993
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are additions.
B. Every day care center licensed pursuant to this Chapter as a Class A or1
Class B facility shall require each child in its care who is not excepted pursuant to2
the provisions of Subsection C of this Section to engage in no less than sixty minutes3
of physical activity per day and no more than sixty minutes of screen time per day4
excluding time that the child is asleep.5
C. A licensed day care center shall not apply the activity requirements6
provided in this Section to any child who is:7
(1) Under the age of two years.8
(2) Unable to engage in physical activity due to illness or disability.9
Section 2. Prior to January 1, 2013, the Louisiana Advisory Council on Child Care10
and Early Education shall:11
(1) Establish standards for specific types of activities which qualify as physical12
activity for the purposes of this Act.13
(2) Establish guidelines and propose practices for day care facilities to effectively14
implement physical activity programs for children. Such guidelines and practices shall15
ensure the safety of children and promote improvements in children's health.16
(3) Develop recommendations for ensuring compliance by day care facilities with17
the provisions of this Act.18
Section 3. Prior to March 1, 2013, the Department of Children and Family Services19
shall promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, all rules and20
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. The department shall21
incorporate in such rules the standards, guidelines, and recommendations developed by22
Louisiana Advisory Council on Child Care and Early Education pursuant to Section 2 of this23
Act.24 HLS 12RS-1454 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 993
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Patrick Williams HB No. 993
Abstract: Requires day care facilities to institute a minimum daily level of physical activity
and maximum daily level of sedentary activity for children in their care.
Proposed law defines "screen time", for the purposes of proposed law, as a sedentary activity
by a child which involves the use of an electronic device, including but not limited to:
(1)A television set.
(2)A device which plays movies or other video content.
(3)A computer.
(4)A video game device.
(5)A handheld electronic device.
Proposed law provides that every day care center licensed pursuant to present law as a Class
A or Class B facility shall require each child in its care who is not excepted pursuant to the
provisions of proposed law to engage in no less than 60 minutes of physical activity per day
and no more than 60 minutes of screen time per day excluding time that the child is asleep.
Proposed law provides that a licensed day care center shall not apply the activity
requirements provided in proposed law to any child who is under the age of two years or is
unable to engage in physical activity due to illness or disability.
Proposed law requires the La. Advisory Council on Child Care and Early Education to
develop standards, guidelines, and recommendations before Jan. 1, 2013, for implementing
the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Children and Family Services to promulgate rules and
regulations before March 1, 2013, for implementing the provisions of proposed law.
Requires that such rules and regulations incorporate material developed by the La. Advisory
Council on Child Care and Early Education relating to implementing proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 46:1430)