Day care bill bad policy

Idaho Senate Bill 1112 would require licensing of anyone who watches four or more children. Presently anyone who watches six or fewer is not required to be licensed. This is a very bad bill.

(1) This is a violation of parental rights as any parent who wants more restrictive care is free to choose an existing licensed facility.

(2) Every injury to a child of which we are aware of has taken place in licensed day care facilities.

(3) Although the requirements of Idaho Code 39-1100 would not be too difficult to meet, the requirements of Health and Welfare, city businesses, the Americans with Disabilities Act and fire department rules will make it very difficult for these small facilities.

(4) These people are not advertising, or in business ministering to the public, but only watching a handful of children for a neighbor or friend.

(5) If these small facilities close it will mean parents will have to seek a more expensive facility, which will place a greater burden on public programs that provide for those at various levels of poverty.

Please don’t support this bill.

Jim Hollingsworth

Coeur d’Alene