Legislature advances bill to license intergenerational daycare centers; sponsors cite family and cost benefits

The Legislature placed Bill 95-38 COR on the third reading file after sponsors described it as a way to create licensed intergenerational daycare centers that serve children and older adults at the same site with separate and shared spaces, certified staff and safety protocols.

Sponsor Senator Tina Rose Munoz Barnes said the bill supports small businesses and working families, and cited a 2023 National Institutes of Health study of Austin, Texas that described benefits of intergenerational centers including social engagement, knowledge transfer and shared programming. The amended measure creates a new license type under Title 10, Chapter 2 for intergenerational daycare centers and directs the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to draft implementing rules within 60 days; floor discussion clarified that the 60 days is for drafting rules and not for completing the full regulatory process.

Amendments adopted during markup and on the floor expanded the list of criminal convictions that would disqualify an adult participant or employee from admission or presence in such centers; the adopted list includes sexual offenses, family/domestic violence, child abuse, illegal drugs, weapons offenses, and those on offender registries as requested by DPHSS and the Bureau of Women’s Affairs.

Supporters on the floor argued the model can lower operating costs by sharing space and services, increase social engagement for isolated elders, provide intergenerational activities (examples cited: gardening and shared meals), and create a new local industry. Multiple senators said the concept reflects Chamorro and Pacific family traditions where elders and children commonly share households.

DPHSS will be required to draft rules and regulations and report back; the bill was placed on the third reading file by unanimous consent. Several senators moved and were added as cosponsors on the floor.