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It’s now after 5:30 p.m. in Boise, and the House Health & Welfare Committee hearing on the child-care licensing bill is still going. So far, 13 people have testified in favor of the bill, and one, former home day-care operator Kimberly Hoffman, testified against. Those in favor included day-care operators, child advocates, parents, the mayor of Eagle, a victim-witness coordinator, a representative of the Catholic Diocese of Idaho, and a spokesman for the state’s health districts. Committee members have had lots of questions for those who testified. After Jodi Giem, operator of Eagle Adventist Christian Center, praised the legislation’s safety requirements and asked, “Shouldn’t we expect that basic safety for our most prized possessions, which are our children?” Rep. Marc Gibbs, R-Grace, asked, “Is this lady for or agin’ the bill?” Giem answered, “I approve of the bill.”
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kimberlyhoffman on March 26 at 5:57 p.m.
Something that should be noted: This bill will (unintentionally) cause home daycares to provide less individual attention. Any home daycare currently licensed for six children that can afford to make structural changes required by the Int’l Fire Code rules will likely take on more children to offset the costs. Right now, a license for six children is easier to get, cheaper, and requires fewer structural changes to a home . If this bill is passed and every daycare must follow the same rules, why would a daycare stop with six children when they will have the same expenses of what is now required of a license for 12 children? The six children total also include the provider’s own children that may be in school on most days, but they don’t have to stop at that if these changes are made!!!
In effect, the bill will lead to decreased attention to young children. Its an unintended consequence of treating all home daycares the same.
thomg57 on March 26 at 7:48 p.m.
Sorry, Kimberly, but your comments are based on nothing more than a personal assumption that is not necessarily true. Personally, I believe you are completely wrong in your assumption. What is your argument against criminal background checks?
kimberlyhoffman on March 26 at 8:52 p.m.
Please, ThornG, explain how I am mistaken. I have been through the licensing process several times, but I would like to know if I am limiting my understanding.
thomg57 on March 26 at 9:55 p.m.
You assume that child care providers “will likely take on more children to offset the costs. “— I do not believe that is necessarily true. it may be in a corporate mentality that looks at nothing but the “bottom line,” but my experience with small child care providers is that they are motivated to be in this “business” as much, if not more, by their relationship with children, as by the financial reward. Those providers are not going to max out their capacity just because they are paying licensing fees.
Now would you please answer my question: What is your argument against criminal background checks?
slfisher on March 27 at 5:59 a.m.
I wonder why Mrs.Wayne Hoffman was the only day-care provider to testify against this bill?
kimberlyhoffman on March 27 at 10:33 a.m.
Yes, I was surprised I was the only one to testify against, too. I imagine that the people most affected by this were working and could not participate.
Yes, I also know about not being driven financially to operate a home daycare. When I did mine for 5 1/2 years, I brought in less than minimum wage while I was paying for my college loans. Yes, I had options for work, but I wanted my kids to have a great daycare. Regardless, I know several daycare providers that started out with a license for 6 and felt that providing for their own families necessitated going to a license for 12. Easier to do without the changes needed in the International Fire Code that this bill requires. But if the cost is nearly the same for both and require sprinklers, wired smoke detectors, and other expenses, it all has to be paid for somehow.
On the background checks…. I am in favor of them. That is a part of the bill I like. I would never take my children to a daycare without it. It amazes me that many of the alternative settings for children with behavioral issues I have worked at allow employees to work with kids before the background check comes back. … But that’s another issue.
slfisher on March 27 at 11:13 a.m.
It astonishes me to hear someone say it is more important for them to be able to make money than to improve our childrens’ safety.
My reading of the articles about testimony indicated that several day-care operators testified in *favor* of the bill, so obviously at least some of them were able to find time.