SB 25-004: Regulating Child Care Center Fees

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

If a prospective family pays a child care center, family child care home, or neighborhood youth organization (child care program) an application fee, a deposit fee, or wait list fee and is not enrolled in the child care program after six months of paying the fee, the act makes the fee is refundable. A child care program may retain a reasonable administrative fee determined by the department of early childhood (department) before issuing a refund to the prospective family. The prospective family must submit a written request to the child care program to receive a refund. Upon receiving the written request from the prospective family, the child care program shall refund the fees to the prospective family and may remove the prospective family from the wait list. Prospective families who are offered a child care slot with a child care program and who refuse the child care slot shall not receive a refund. If a family enrolls in a child care program and signs a contract with the child care program provider, the terms of the contract, including fees outlined in the contract, are not subject to the requirements of the act. A child care program shall provide a fee schedule and the process on fee refunds to a prospective family and an enrolled family. A child care program may publish the fee schedule digitally on the child care program's website. During the department's periodic inspections, or if a complaint is filed regarding fees, the act directs the department to review the information in the child care center's policy for establishing fees to confirm the child care center is complying with the law. If the department finds the child care center is not compliant, the child care center has 30 days after the date of inspection to comply. If the child care center does not comply within 30 days after the date of inspection, the department may take further disciplinary action. The department shall not take disciplinary action against a child care program that makes a good faith administrative error or is not in compliance for the first time. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 24

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. March 26, 2025Governor Signed
2. March 20, 2025Signed by the President of the Senate
3. March 20, 2025Signed by the Speaker of the House
4. March 20, 2025Sent to the Governor
5. March 18, 2025Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
6. March 13, 2025House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
7. March 12, 2025House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor
8. March 11, 2025House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
9. February 20, 2025Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
10. February 20, 2025Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
11. February 19, 2025Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
12. February 18, 2025Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

Showing 12 most recent of 15 actions. Full history