Committee advances bill to make childcare aide supervision flexibility permanent

The House Committee on Children and Families Finance and Policy on Thursday adopted a floor-author amendment and voted to re-refer House File 1247 to the general register, advancing legislation that would make permanent a 2023 allowance letting aide staff independently supervise up to 25% of the day in licensed child care centers.

House File 1247, carried in committee by Representative Nadeau, would remove the July 2025 sunset on temporary changes enacted in 2023 that were intended to give providers staffing flexibility during shortages. Representative Nadeau told the committee the bill "allows the continuation of a practice that helps providers manage their programs in difficult staffing times, ensuring that teachers who are the highest qualified staff members can be there for the bulk of the day when most of the children are present." (Representative Nadeau, author)

Supporters told the committee the change has not produced documented safety problems. Darielle Dannen, contract lobbyist for the Minnesota Child Care Association, said the 2023 pilot included specific guardrails: aides serving alone must be at least 18 years old, must have worked at the program a minimum of 30 days, and aides employed fewer than 90 days must complete licensing training required of new staff within their first 90 days. "We're not talking about staff who were hired yesterday and have 0 knowledge of children in the program," Dannen said.

Jen Orth, owner of High Point Child Care, described operational benefits at her centers in Lakeville and Rosemount. Orth said that after staffing shortages forced her to reduce operating hours in September 2024, the flexibility to schedule aides for mornings and late afternoons allowed lead teachers to be present during the "core of our educational day," which Orth described as roughly 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Orth said the change "has significantly reduced the need for overtime, which is crucial preventing burnout and keeping the cost of childcare low." (Jen Orth, owner)

Committee members asked for data on safety and fiscal impact; Representative Nadeau said the Department of Human Services had no evidence of negative health or safety impacts during the 18 months the pilot was in effect and that the bill had "no fiscal impact on the state." After discussion the committee adopted the author's DE1 amendment and, by voice vote, re-referred the bill to the general register.

The action moves House File 1247 to the next step in the House process; no final House floor vote was recorded in the committee hearing.

Votes and formal actions recorded at the hearing: Representative Nadeau moved the DE1 and presented the bill; Representative Doze moved that House File 1247 be re-referred to the general register as amended. The committee adopted the DE1 and the re-referral motion by voice vote (recorded as "aye"), and the chair announced the motion prevailed.