Previous Position Statements

PennAEYC Positions Statements from Previous Pennsylvania Legislative Sessions

2023-24 Pennsylvania Legislation

House Bill – Carbon Monoxide Alarms Standards in Child Care Facilities Act

House Bill 494 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.

The Department of Human Services would be authorized to take enforcement action against a child care facility for a violation of the carbon monoxide alarm requirements.

The bill would take effect in 90 days with child care facilities required to meet the carbon monoxide alarm requirement within 18 months of the effective date.

HB 494 PN 463 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

House Bill – Employee Child Care Public Private Partnership

House Bill 975 amends the Human Services Code to establish an Employee Child Care Public Private Partnership within the Department of Human Services (DHS).

In order to administer the partnership, DHS may coordinate and share information with other agencies and enter into contracts to administer the partnership or parts of the partnership. DHS must:

• Create and publish a standard contract to participate in the partnership.
• Review and process submitted contracts.
• Notify parties of the contract of their enrollment status in the partnership.
• Manage and administer the Employee Child-Care Public Private Partnership Fund.
• Verify eligibility for employee, employer or child care provider for participation in the partnership.
• Collect and verify household income information from eligible employees and determine the eligible match amount.
• Distribute educational materials about the partnership to employer, employees and child care providers.

An employer may participate in the partnership as a benefit of employment. Employers must enter into a contract with an employee and a child care provider. Employers must submit a contract and any additional information to DHS and contribute directly to the child care provider for the employee’s costs. Employees are responsible for the balance if the employer payment and the DHS match do not cover the cost of child care.

The Employee Child-Care Public Private Partnership Fund is established in the State Treasury with funds appropriated from the General Assembly, contributions, gifts or grants. The fund, administered by DHS, are to be used for the partnership.

The act would take effect immediately. Download PennAEYC’s position statement here:  
HB 975 PN 995 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement DRAFT

House Bill – Keystone STARS
House Bill 1020 amends the Human Services Code, Articles IX and X, to add a section to allow providers to:

• Post their STAR-level rating on their website;
• Provide the STAR-level rating in writing to the parent in a linguistically appropriate manner along with the DHS website where information on the Keystone STARS Program can be found and;
• Obtain the DHS-issued placard with their STAR-level rating which may be posted in a public-facing location.

House Bill – Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program

House Bill 1259 expands Pennsylvania’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program beginning after December 31, 2021. Employment-related expenses incurred by the taxpayer who also claimed a federal tax credit during the prior taxable year can earn a tax credit.

House Bill 1746 amends the definition of “child care center” in the Human Services Code. The amendment specifically excludes a program  operated by a municipality that has an ordinance or resolution that adopted the health and safety standards consistent with the minimum standards for municipal recreation programs for preschoolers that are provided by the PA Recreation and Parks Society Protocol adopted on September 15, 2023. This effectively removes any requirements related to health and safety required by a child care center in Title 55 Pa Code Chapter 3270 from applying to a municipal recreation program.

Senate Bill – Carbon Monoxide Alarms Standards in Child Care Facilities Act
Senate Bill 205 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 205, PN 177 PennAEYC Trying Together First Up Position Statement

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