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Senate committee restores statutory child-care staff-to-child ratios and expands older-age ratios
Summary
A committee amendment to House Bill 243 restored statutory staff-to-child ratios, tightened operational counting rules and increased maximum class sizes by one child for several age groups; the committee returned the bill to the Senate floor as amended without recommendation.
The Senate Committee of the Whole amended provisions in House Bill 2 43 to restore statutory staff-to-child ratios, clarify counting rules for staff and attendance, and adjust maximum group sizes for several age groups.
The committee’s amendment keeps the existing ratio for infants under 2 at 6-to-1, raises the ratio for 2-to-3 year-olds from 8-to-1 to 9-to-1, increases the 3-to-5 age group from 12-to-1 to 13-to-1, and raises the 5-and-up group from 24-to-1 to 25-to-1 while explicitly allowing facilities to choose stricter ratios.
Supporters described the changes as a compromise informed by in-state waiver experience and practices in other states; supporters told the committee the Department of Health and Welfare had used similar ratios under waivers for months. The amendments also restored rules previously struck out by the proposed bill so that operational details—such as how attendance and staff are counted toward ratios—remain in rule language tied to statute.
Senator Buerke (committee sponsor) said the restored statutory approach simplifies the prior complex point system and walked members through the age-by-age ratios. Senator Bierke explained the amendment that reinstates the rules and the operational counting details. Senator Wintrow asked whether the amendment fully reverses the earlier rule repeal; Bierke confirmed it does.
The committee adopted the section-level amendments by voice vote and later voted to report House Bill 2 43 as amended back to the Senate without recommendation. The report was made and the matter was returned to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Committee action leaves the bill’s statutory ratios in place while preserving the Department’s operational rules; proponents said facilities may still operate at more stringent ratios by choice. The committee’s action also preserves a path the department used previously via waiver authority in some facilities.
The measure will be considered again by the full Senate as the legislature continues its floor work.
