House committee hears testimony on bill to require parenting workshops for preschool enrollment

Representative Gregorio Ocasio Ramos, chair of the commission, convened a May 30 hearing on Proyecto de la Cámara 6-54 (PC 654), which would create a required parenting-education program delivered as part of hospital discharge and as a condition for enrollment in certain public preschool programs.

The measure’s supporters told the commission the training aims to prevent child abuse and neglect by giving parents basic information on newborn care, safe sleep, shaken-baby prevention, nutrition and positive, nonviolent discipline. Forensic sexologist Juan Carlos Malavé Resach, an expert witness, said the bill aligns with recent child-protection policy and cited international programs as models. “La educación en la crianza no solo salva vidas, sino que construye ciudadanía, previene la violencia y refuerza el tejido social,” Malavé said.

The proposal would require an issuing entity to provide a participation certificate for parents; the bill text names program content (care of the newborn, SIDS prevention, shaken-baby syndrome, home and transport safety, breastfeeding and safe feeding, parental stress management, positive parenting without violence, and an explanation of Law 57 of 2023 and legal implications of abuse). The draft also states the certificate must be presented…