City council changes CdA’s child-care laws

Coeur d’Alene day-care workers must get an annual city license and facility owners must disclose if any immediate family member is a registered sex offender.

The Coeur d’Alene City Council unanimously passed changes to the city’s child-care laws Tuesday to strengthen the rules and protect children from sex offenders and other felons.

“It passed with flying colors and even got applause from the audience,” Deputy City Clerk Kathy Lewis said.

The new law requires all day-care workers, not just owners, to get $5 licenses from the city, and renew them each year.

The license will show that the employee has had a background check, completed continuing education courses and is certified in CPR and first aid.

Lewis said bad day-care workers currently can jump from job to job.

Day-care owners must also disclose to the city, parents and employees if a spouse or any immediate family member is a registered sex offender.

The owner must either post the information by the facility’s door or give written notice to parents, including a photo of the registered sex offender, Lewis said.