Senate committee weighs folding early-childhood licensure into OPR bill, debates fees and timing

The Senate Government Operations Committee on April 23 considered folding provisions from H.119 into H.472, the Office of Professional Regulation bill, to create a new licensure chapter for early childhood educators and a Board of Early Childhood Educators.

Committee members and legislative counsel described the combined draft as a ‘‘strike-all’’ approach to incorporate H.119’s provisions into H.472. Tim Devlin, legislative counsel, told the committee the two drafting approaches would have the same legal effect and said they could ‘‘redraft it as such as strike all.’’

The combined draft adds early childhood educators to the professions regulated by OPR, creates a new chapter for early childhood educators, and sets out four licensure categories (ECE 1–3 and a family child care provider category). The bill would authorize a board and specify its membership, powers and duties, and rulemaking authority. The board would be established in fiscal year 2027 with some elements staged so licensure rules and application windows come later.

The draft sets education and experience standards for the highest tier: an Early Childhood Educator 3 requires a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field with at least 120 college credits and field experience. The family child care provider category is intended as a limited grandfathering path: applicants must be operating a family child care home regulated and in good standing with the Child Development Division (CDD) as of January 1, 2028, and the board will stop accepting new family child care provider applications after that date.

The bill also proposes enforcement and disclosure requirements, an extended variance window and language requiring licensees to post and provide information explaining licensure types and who regulates which services to give families clearer guidance.

On funding, the draft authorizes initial staff positions and appropriations to OPR. Committee counsel described two initial positions (one executive officer and one staff attorney) and an FY26 appropriation of $262,000 from the general fund to OPR (committee discussion later referenced FY27 as the operative year for some authorizations). For FY27 the draft authorizes three additional permanent positions and a $628,867 appropriation; it also proposes transferring $1,400,000 from the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP/CCDF) in FY27 to OPR to cover initial licensing and renewal fees for people licensed under the new chapter.

Committee members asked procedural and fiscal questions. Senator White said she supported a strike-all approach if it would not overburden legislative counsel. Members asked staff to request a fiscal note and to consult the Joint Fiscal Office on the funding questions and the proposed use of CCDF funds. Natalie Richards told the committee she understood some funding was included in the budget as a one-time allocation.

No vote was taken. The committee chair said the committee would aim to consider the bill again and expected to vote on it the following week if no new hurdles appear.

Clarifying details, program timing and appropriations remain under discussion and committee members asked OPR and legislative staff for a fiscal note and additional information before a final committee vote.