UPDATE: More “Stealth Legislation”? Department of Health Plans a Public Hearing for “Busiest Holiday of the Summer Travel Season”

Fourth of July Closings:

Many providers who have contacted the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development to determine if Friday will be a paid holiday have been told to open on Friday or to close and mark vacation days on next months ledgers. 

On or around June 4, 2013, the Governor issued a proclamation that all State offices will be closed on Friday. (Click on Proclamation)

Therefore, you may close today and return to full child care operations on Monday with pay and without giving up a day of vacation for each low-income child.

So, enjoy your holidays!  You have earned them!

More “Stealth Legislation”? MDH plans a Public Hearing for “Busiest Holiday of the Summer Travel Season”

The last time child care regulations proposals were presented to the Mississippi Board of Health for adoption was Halloween – a day when most providers were hosting long scheduled holiday parties and Trick-or-Treating events.

And now, as millions of Americans hit the road to celebrate what AAA describes as “the busiest holiday of the summer travel season”, the Mississippi Department of Health Child Care Bureau has planned another public hearing.

“The largest share of travelers, 32 percent, will depart on Wednesday, July 3 “, AAA said – the same day scheduled to receive public input into an MDH quality agenda that many members of the Child Care Advisory Council say was not discussed at their meetings. (For MDH Calendar, click here.)

If that is true, then this is nothing more than “Stealth Legislation” (click here) and explains how some of the following found their way into the proposed licensing regulations:

• The maximum capacity of a child care facility is determined by the indoor square footage, kitchen square footage, outdoor playground area, and the number of toilets, urinals, and hand washing lavatories, with the lowest capacity determination being controlling. The maximum capacity of each room that is utilized by the children in a child care facility is calculated individually and may not be exceeded except when provided in these regulations.

• Caregivers shall be at least 18 years of age, and shall have at a minimum: 1. A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) or;
  2. A current CECPR Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, a MDHS DECCD Child Care Director’s Credential, or MDHS OCY Director’s Child Care Credential. (See Chart below.)

• The outdoor playground area shall be free of hazards and not less than 30 feet (measured horizontally parallel to the ground) from electrical transformers, high-voltage power lines, electrical substations, railroad tracks, or sources of toxic fumes or gases.

• Items such as but not limited to pillows, blankets, sheepskins, bumpers, soft objects, stuffed toys, loose bedding, etc., shall not be in the crib.

• The staff-to-child ratio shall be maintained at all times, to include when children are arriving and departing the facility.

Public hearings on proposed regulations are not only an opportunity to strengthen the rules governing child care, but also to relax costly regulations said to be already adopted/enforced.

Click here to review the filing in the SOS Administrative Bulletin.

Click here to view Part 1 of the Jan. 25, 2013, Child Care Advisory Council Meeting.

Click here to view Part 2 of the Jan. 25, 2013, Child Care Advisory Council Meeting.

Enjoy your holidays & plan to attend the

Mississippi Board of Health Meeting

Next Week

Wednesday 

      July 10, 2013       

10:00 A.M.

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