Previous Position Statements

PennAEYC Positions Statements from Previous Pennsylvania Legislative Sessions

2021-22 Pennsylvania Legislation

Senate Bill 129 – Carbon Monoxide Alarms Standards in Child Care Facilities Act

Senate Bill 129  creates the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards in Child Care Facilities Act. The bill would require each building where a child care facility is operating that uses a 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. Child care facilities may not be granted a license or certificate of compliance without meeting the requirements. A child care facility may be granted a provisional license if they are not in compliance with the requirements. 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 SB 129, PN 105 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

Senate Bill 563 –  Smoke Detectors for Family Child Care Homes 

Senate Bill 563 amends the “Fire and Panic Act” to require family child care home providers to install interconnected (whether by hardwire, Bluetooth or other means) smoke alarms on each floor of their home and in the basement and have a portable fire extinguisher in the kitchen and any other cooking areas. The activation of each smoke alarm must result in an audible alarm for those inside the child care space with all doors closed. At the time of installation, the smoke alarm must be approved by a testing laboratory recognized by OSHA to test and certify smoke alarms. Family child care homes are provided 12 months after the effective date or until the expiration of their current certificate of compliance (whichever is longer) to comply.

Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:

SB 563 PN 1588 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement April 2022

SB 563 PN 609 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

House Bill 1155 –  Municipal Recreation Programs

House Bill 1155 exempts municipal recreation programs serving preschoolers from meeting the requirements of a child care center, if the municipality has an ordinance or resolution that adopts the health and safety standards consistent with the minimum standards that are provided by the PA Recreation and Parks Society Protocol for Public Preschool Recreation Programs. Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:

HB 1155, PN 3020 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

HB 1155, PN 1219 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

House Bill 2400 – Keystone STARS Placards and Pathway to Additional STARS

House Bill 2400 gives non-profit and for-profit child care providers the option to post their STAR-level rating in a public-facing location utilizing a Department of Human Services issued placard and post their STAR-level rating on their website. The provider may also provide their STAR-level rating and the DHS website in writing to the family at the time of application, so families can obtain information on the Keystone STARS Program. As amended, the bill includes language that requires DHS to create a rubric that would provide a pathway to permit appropriate demonstration of a combination of staff qualifications, work experience and professional development, quality early childhood education program activities, partnerships with families and communities and effective leadership and program management when applying for additional STARS. Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:

HB 2400 PN 3512 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

2019-2021 Pennsylvania Legislation

Senate Bill 430 – Carbon Monoxide Alarm Standards in Child Care Facilities Act

Senate Bill 430 The carbon monoxide alarm must be installed by hardwire connection to the security system if the building has a security system. The bill is effective 90 days following passage and carbon monoxide alarms must be installed 18 months after the effective date to be in compliance. The Department of Human Services may not issue or renew a license for a child care facility if requirements of the bill are not met and is provided the ability to issue a provisional license in these cases.

Download PennAEYC’s position statement 5/28/2020 (PN 397) SB 430 PN 1719 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

Senate Bills 934 and 935 – Fire Safety

Senate Bill 934 and Senate Bill 935 require family child care home providers to install interconnected (whether by hardwire or by Bluetooth) smoke detectors on each floor of their home and in the basement and have a portable fire extinguisher in the kitchen and any other cooking areas. In addition, child care centers and family child care homes are required to have operable and properly maintained fire detection systems and programs are required to test all fire detection systems every thirty days and maintain a written record of the testing with the facility’s fire drill logs. If this cannot occur, the system must be tested at least annually by a fire safety professional and written documentation of the results must be maintained. In addition, programs must keep proof and date of purchase of fire detection systems in their log. The bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) child care certification representatives to inspect for compliance with fire safety requirements in child care centers and family child care homes and refer any failures to the building code official charged with the enforcement of fire safety requirements. Building code officials are also required to issue reports and information to ensure compliance to DHS.

Download PennAEYC’s position 6/2/2020 SB 934 PN 1720_ SB 935 PN 1516 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement