Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee adopts amendment to let DHS grant small square‑foot variances for freestanding childcare centers; bill laid over
Summary
The committee adopted an amendment allowing the commissioner to grant a variance of up to 100 square feet from space requirements for freestanding childcare centers and laid House File 656 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill, with members asking DHS to clarify licensing and fire‑code interactions.
The House Committee on Children, Youth and Families on Tuesday adopted an amendment and laid over House File 656, a bill that would allow the commissioner to grant a variance of up to 100 square feet from per‑child space requirements for freestanding childcare centers.
Representative Zalesnikar, the bill author, said the change is intended to give local inspectors and the Department of Human Services more flexibility to approve a small variance so an otherwise compliant center can accept two additional children and relieve local waiting lists. "This is a very small space…it's a 10‑by‑10 rug," she said, describing the 100 square‑foot…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
