Signed by Governor Brad Little

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes child care facilities to determine a safe child-to-staff ratio in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Establishes a statewide system of standards for daycare facilities for children (Sec. 1).

• Defines supervision within child care facilities to include (Sec. 2):

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of a child less than 5 years of age with the ability to render immediate assistance;

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of the child for children 5 years of age and older; and

• Providers within sight and normal hearing range while children are sleeping, swimming, or engaging in any water activity.

•  Requires applicants for daycare facilities licensure to (Sec. 3):

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Submit an application;

• Obtain a certificate of a fire inspection of the facility;

• Obtain a certificate of a health and safety inspection of the facility; and

• Maintain compliance with safety and health requirements.

• Specifies that applicants who fail to complete the application process within 6 months will have their application terminated (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the department to issue to applicants who comply with licensure requirements licenses that are valid for 2 years, unless it is revoked or suspended (Sec. 4).

• Requires the department to send licensees a renewal application at least 90 days before the expiration date of the license (Sec. 4).

• Requires renewal applicants to provide the department with (Sec. 4):

• The renewal application;

• The renewal fee; and

• A criminal history check for the facility owner and any employees 18 years of age or older.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain (Sec. 6):

• Adequate fire and smoke alarms;

• A functional telephone;

• Adequate fire extinguishers;

• Adequate exits; and

• Firearms or other weapons in the facility in a locked container.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain the following regulations for bodies of water (Sec. 6):

• A fence posted at least 4 feet high with vertical openings at a maximum of 4 inches wide surrounding the entirety of the pool with a self-latching mechanism;

• An audible alarm for the opening of any doors with unrestricted access to a pool area;

• No furniture in any position that would assist children in entering the pool;

• A protective covering over the pool, hot tub, pond, or other body of water, if the area around the water is not fenced and locked;

• Wading pools must be emptied when not in use;

• At least one employee present while children use a pool, hot tub, or other body of water; and

• A fence at least 4 feet high must be posted around the facility, if the facility is adjacent to a body of water.

• Requires the day care facility to establish and maintain a child-to-staff ratio (Sec. 6).

• Requires each daycare facility to (Sec. 6):

• Develop a child-to-staff ratio policy;

• Ensure the established child-to-staff ratio is made readily available to parents and guardians; and

• Remain in compliance with the ratio policy.

• Specifies that the department may establish rules and procedures to maintain the provisions of this bill by July 1, 2026 (Sec. 7).

• Requires the department to provide the following information (Sec. 8):

• The importance of parents being vigilant for the safety, emotional health, and training of their children;

• The characteristics of a quality daycare;

• Strong suggestion to parents to inquire about criminal history checks for any provider; 

• A link to a department approved website that contains more detailed information; and

• A phone number for parents to report unsafe, dangerous, or harmful activities within a daycare.

• Specifies that the violations of the provisions of this bill are misdemeanors (Sec. 9).

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2025 (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes child care facilities to determine a safe child-to-staff ratio in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Establishes a statewide system of standards for daycare facilities for children (Sec. 1).

• Defines supervision within child care facilities to include (Sec. 2):

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of a child less than 5 years of age with the ability to render immediate assistance;

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of the child for children 5 years of age and older; and

• Providers within sight and normal hearing range while children are sleeping, swimming, or engaging in any water activity.

•  Requires applicants for daycare facilities licensure to (Sec. 3):

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Submit an application;

• Obtain a certificate of a fire inspection of the facility;

• Obtain a certificate of a health and safety inspection of the facility; and

• Maintain compliance with safety and health requirements.

• Specifies that applicants who fail to complete the application process within 6 months will have their application terminated (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the department to issue to applicants who comply with licensure requirements licenses that are valid for 2 years, unless it is revoked or suspended (Sec. 4).

• Requires the department to send licensees a renewal application at least 90 days before the expiration date of the license (Sec. 4).

• Requires renewal applicants to provide the department with (Sec. 4):

• The renewal application;

• The renewal fee; and

• A criminal history check for the facility owner and any employees 18 years of age or older.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain (Sec. 6):

• Adequate fire and smoke alarms;

• A functional telephone;

• Adequate fire extinguishers;

• Adequate exits; and

• Firearms or other weapons in the facility in a locked container.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain the following regulations for bodies of water (Sec. 6):

• A fence posted at least 4 feet high with vertical openings at a maximum of 4 inches wide surrounding the entirety of the pool with a self-latching mechanism;

• An audible alarm for the opening of any doors with unrestricted access to a pool area;

• No furniture in any position that would assist children in entering the pool;

• A protective covering over the pool, hot tub, pond, or other body of water, if the area around the water is not fenced and locked;

• Wading pools must be emptied when not in use;

• At least one employee present while children use a pool, hot tub, or other body of water; and

• A fence at least 4 feet high must be posted around the facility, if the facility is adjacent to a body of water.

• Requires the day care facility to establish and maintain a child-to-staff ratio (Sec. 6).

• Requires each daycare facility to (Sec. 6):

• Develop a child-to-staff ratio policy;

• Ensure the established child-to-staff ratio is made readily available to parents and guardians; and

• Remain in compliance with the ratio policy.

• Specifies that the department may establish rules and procedures to maintain the provisions of this bill by July 1, 2026 (Sec. 7).

• Requires the department to provide the following information (Sec. 8):

• The importance of parents being vigilant for the safety, emotional health, and training of their children;

• The characteristics of a quality daycare;

• Strong suggestion to parents to inquire about criminal history checks for any provider; 

• A link to a department approved website that contains more detailed information; and

• A phone number for parents to report unsafe, dangerous, or harmful activities within a daycare.

• Specifies that the violations of the provisions of this bill are misdemeanors (Sec. 9).

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2025 (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes child care facilities to determine a safe child-to-staff ratio in Idaho.

Highlights:

• Establishes a statewide system of standards for daycare facilities for children (Sec. 1).

• Defines supervision within child care facilities to include (Sec. 2):

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of a child less than 5 years of age with the ability to render immediate assistance;

• Providers within sight or normal hearing range of the child for children 5 years of age and older; and

• Providers within sight and normal hearing range while children are sleeping, swimming, or engaging in any water activity.

•  Requires applicants for daycare facilities licensure to (Sec. 3):

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Submit an application;

• Obtain a certificate of a fire inspection of the facility;

• Obtain a certificate of a health and safety inspection of the facility; and

• Maintain compliance with safety and health requirements.

• Specifies that applicants who fail to complete the application process within 6 months will have their application terminated (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the department to issue to applicants who comply with licensure requirements licenses that are valid for 2 years, unless it is revoked or suspended (Sec. 4).

• Requires the department to send licensees a renewal application at least 90 days before the expiration date of the license (Sec. 4).

• Requires renewal applicants to provide the department with (Sec. 4):

• The renewal application;

• The renewal fee; and

• A criminal history check for the facility owner and any employees 18 years of age or older.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain (Sec. 6):

• Adequate fire and smoke alarms;

• A functional telephone;

• Adequate fire extinguishers;

• Adequate exits; and

• Firearms or other weapons in the facility in a locked container.

• Requires daycare facilities to maintain the following regulations for bodies of water (Sec. 6):

• A fence posted at least 4 feet high with vertical openings at a maximum of 4 inches wide surrounding the entirety of the pool with a self-latching mechanism;

• An audible alarm for the opening of any doors with unrestricted access to a pool area;

• No furniture in any position that would assist children in entering the pool;

• A protective covering over the pool, hot tub, pond, or other body of water, if the area around the water is not fenced and locked;

• Wading pools must be emptied when not in use;

• At least one employee present while children use a pool, hot tub, or other body of water; and

• A fence at least 4 feet high must be posted around the facility, if the facility is adjacent to a body of water.

• Requires the day care facility to establish and maintain a child-to-staff ratio (Sec. 6).

• Requires each daycare facility to (Sec. 6):

• Develop a child-to-staff ratio policy;

• Ensure the established child-to-staff ratio is made readily available to parents and guardians; and

• Remain in compliance with the ratio policy.

• Specifies that the department may establish rules and procedures to maintain the provisions of this bill by July 1, 2026 (Sec. 7).

• Requires the department to provide the following information (Sec. 8):

• The importance of parents being vigilant for the safety, emotional health, and training of their children;

• The characteristics of a quality daycare;

• Strong suggestion to parents to inquire about criminal history checks for any provider; 

• A link to a department approved website that contains more detailed information; and

• A phone number for parents to report unsafe, dangerous, or harmful activities within a daycare.

• Specifies that the violations of the provisions of this bill are misdemeanors (Sec. 9).

• Specifies that the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2025 (Sec. 13).

Full Bill Text