Req. No. 3368 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) SENATE BILL 1717 By: Garvin AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to child care; amending 10 O.S. 2021, Section 405.4, which relates to education and continuing education requirements; extending continuing education cyc le; providing certain exemption for master teacher qualifications; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10 O.S. 2021, Section 405.4, is amended to read as follows: Section 405.4. A. Any person with a bachelor ’s degree or postgraduate degree shall be considered as having met the educational requirements for a director of a full -time child care center required by the Department of Human Services. Nothing in this section shall be construed as to affect annual continuing education requirements. The director of a child care center may also qualify as a master t eacher for children of all ages. Req. No. 3368 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. Any The continuing education requirements established by the Department shall be on a two-year cycle. C. Subject to the exemptions provided by subsection D of this section, a person replacing a master teacher at a child care center shall be granted a one -year probationary period to fulfill the educational qualifications required by the Department for a master teacher. The Department may extend the probationary period an additional year as long as the person is actively pursuing that goal. D. A person shall be exempt fro m the educational qualifications required by the Department for a master teache r if the person has: 1. Not less than two (2) years o f full-time experience or the equivalent in the profession of child care or education as determined by the Department ; or 2. Obtained not less than six (6) credit hours at an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education or at a technology center school in subjects rel evant to child care as determined by the Department. C. E. Licensed child care facilities opened or expanded before November 1, 2016, shall have thirty -five (35) square feet of floor area per infant in room s occupied only by infa nts. New construction and existing space not previously licensed for child care after November 1, 2016, shall have forty (40) square feet of floor area per infant in rooms occupied only by infants. Req. No. 3368 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 59-2-3368 DC 1/16/2024 5:43:42 PM