Tennessee House Bill HB1669

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/24
• Refer: 1/10/24
• Refer: 2/20/24
• Refer: 2/28/24
• Chaptered: 4/17/24
• Passed: 4/17/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 71, relative to child care agencies.

Impact

The introduction of HB 1669 aims to enhance transparency and communication between child care providers and families. By legally requiring child care centers to notify parents of impending closures, the bill seeks to mitigate potential disruptions in child care services, which can significantly affect families' routines and plans. This change is expected to improve operational accountability within child care agencies, ensuring that they adhere to better standards of service delivery to families relying on their services.

Summary

House Bill 1669 seeks to amend specific parts of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning child care agencies. The bill mandates that child care centers provide timely notice to parents or guardians regarding any permanent closures of their facilities. This notice must be delivered as early as practicable before the closure occurs, ensuring that families have adequate time to make alternate arrangements for their children. The methods of communication can include written or electronic notices, as well as public postings at the child care center itself.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding the bill appears to be generally positive, with many stakeholders supporting the idea of improved communication in child care settings. Parents and advocates for children’s welfare have expressed appreciation for measures that provide essential information during critical transitions. However, there may be some reservations regarding the burden placed on child care providers to comply with this new requirement, particularly among smaller, independent centers that may lack the resources to manage extensive communications.

Contention

Though there seems to be broad support for enhancing communication about closures, potential points of contention could arise regarding the specifics of how the notice must be provided. Debates may center around the adequacy of the proposed notice periods and the implications for child care centers that effectively seek to minimize operational disruptions. As the bill progresses, discussions are likely to focus on balancing the need for family notification with the operational realities faced by child care providers.