Children and Families Committee advances portions of child care modernization bill on parent access and classroom furnishings

The Minnesota House Children and Families Committee voted to refer House File 2,078 to the general register after adopting portions of a DE1 amendment that clarify parent access to enrolled children and loosen prescriptive requirements for classroom furnishings and equipment.

Representative West, chairing the committee, moved HF 2,078 and the committee divided the DE1 amendment so it could take up two discrete parts. The committee voted to adopt the amendment segments covering the child care center parent-access provision and the child care center requirements for furnishings, equipment and materials; the motion carried and the bill was referred to the general register as amended.

The language adopted requires child care centers to make age-appropriate materials available but allows certain art supplies and musical or rhythm instruments to be stored out of children’s immediate reach so long as…