Tennessee House Bill HB1701

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/24
• Refer: 1/10/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49 and Title 71, relative to child care.

Impact

The bill underscores the necessity to analyze the regulatory landscape for child care businesses in Tennessee, particularly focusing on operational hurdles faced by owners. The study mandated by the bill will inspect both urban and rural contexts, aiming to identify unnecessary regulations that impose burdens on child care providers. The outcome is expected to yield recommendations that may simplify processes for child care business owners and enhance operational conditions, as well as to promote child welfare.

Summary

House Bill 1701 aims to amend several titles of the Tennessee Code Annotated to review and potentially reform the regulations governing child care businesses across the state. The primary initiative within the bill is to direct the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to conduct a comprehensive study on the laws and regulations that affect the establishment, operation, and expansion of child care facilities. This examination is intended to address various types of child care operations, including child care agencies, family child care homes, and licensed centers.

Contention

Notably, the bill highlights an important dialogue regarding the balance between necessary regulations to ensure health and safety standards and the need for a regulatory environment that fosters the growth and sustainability of child care businesses. While proponents may advocate for revising or eliminating overly burdensome regulations, concerns may arise regarding the implications of deregulation, emphasizing the protection of children's well-being in various care settings. The dynamics of local legislative sentiment towards child care regulation may influence how this bill evolves and is received.

Next_steps

As stipulated by the bill, TACIR is expected to present its findings and legislative recommendations by November 1, 2024, instructing state agencies to assist in this endeavor, thus setting the groundwork for possible legislative changes aimed at streamlining child care business operations in the future.