4856710 Resolution 20-453, "Child Development Home License Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014"

A RESOLUTION

 

20-453 

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

April 8, 2014

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the definition of a child development home to permit more than 2 children under 2 years of age in a child development home with a ratio of one adult caregiver to 2 children under 2 years of age.  

 

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the "Child Development Home License Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2014".

           

Sec. 2.  (a) There exists an immediate need to amend section 2 of the Day Care Policy Act of 1979   to permit more than 2 children under 2 years of age in a child development home with a ratio of one adult caregiver to 2 children under 2 years of age.  

            (b) At a hearing held March 20, 2014, parents of young children and operators of child development homes all expressed that there is a shortage of spaces for childcare for children under 2 in licensed child development homes. 

            (c) Parents testified that they have a strong and immediate need for expansion of the limit on service to children under 2, so long as staffing is adequate to serve a greater number of young children safely. 

            (d) Child development home operators indicated that due to the Pre-K expansion, they are having difficulty filling available spaces for children older than 2 years old, but they have waiting lists of parents seeking care for their under-2-year-old children.  Further, they indicated that in many instances they have laid off paid caregivers because of the inability to fill the spaces for children 2 years old and up.        

 

            Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Child Development Home License Emergency Amendment Act of 2014 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.