PennAEYC Position Statements

PennAEYC Positions Statements

PennAEYC monitors and responds to legislative, regulatory and administrative actions impacting the early care and education system at the state and federal levels. Learn more about current proposals by downloading our position statements. If you have questions please contact Kimberly Early.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Legislation

House Bill – Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards in Children's Institutions and Family Child Care Homes
House Bill 156 amends the Human Services Code at Article X, specific to for-profit child care centers and family child care homes, establishing carbon monoxide alarm standards. The bill requires that each building where a child care center and family child care home is operating that uses fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, fireplace or in an attached garage, have an operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide alarm installed and was amended to require it within fifteen feet of the heater or appliance, fireplace or attached garage. A carbon monoxide alarm would also need to be located on every level of the child care center or family child care home.

The Department of Human Services would be authorized to take enforcement action against a child care center and family child care home for a violation of the carbon monoxide alarm requirements in Articles IX and X and the regulations.

The definition of “approved carbon monoxide alarm” was amended to be defined as it is in the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards Act. As amended, the definition of “children’s institution” was added to reference a non-for profit child care center and the definition of child care center was removed. The bill would take effect in 90 days with child care centers and family child care homes required to meet the carbon monoxide alarm requirement within 18 months of the effective date.

Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:
HB 156 PN 1047 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement
HB 156 PN 116 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

 

Senate Bill – Carbon Monoxide Alarms Standards in Child Care Facilities Act
Senate Bill 265 creates the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards in Child Care Facilities Act. The Act would require that each building where a child care facility is operating that uses fossil-fuel-burning heater or appliance, fireplace or in an attached garage, have an operational, centrally located and approved carbon monoxide alarm installed in the vicinity of the heater or fireplace. A carbon monoxide alarm would also need to be located in every unit on the same story as the heater or appliance. Nothing in the Act is intended to modify the authority and responsibility of the Department of Labor and Industry under the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act.

Child care facilities may not be granted a license or certificate of compliance from the Department of Human Services without meeting the requirements of Section 4. A child care facility may be granted a provisional license if they are not in compliance with the requirements of Section 4. The bill would take effect in 90 days with child care facilities required to meet the carbon monoxide requirement within 18 months of the effective date.

Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:

SB 256 PN 210 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

 

Pennsylvania Legislation from Previous Legislative Sessions

PN refers to the term "printer's number". Bills have a printer’s number in the upper right-hand corner, known as the printer’s number. If a bill is amended, it is given a new printer’s number to reflect changes have been made to the bill. All previous numbers are in the upper left-hand corner of a bill.

For information on how to read a bill, please go here.