Some child care regulations rolled back under bill approved by Indiana House

Unlicensed child care providers in Indiana would be able to serve more children for more hours each week under legislation approved by the House.

Rep. Dave Heine (R-New Haven) said Hoosier families are spending an average of 24 percent of their income on child care. And the state has less than half of the number of child care seats it needs.

“Common sense reductions to burdensome requirements is a step in the right direction,” Heine said.

Heine’s bill, HB 1102, allows unlicensed providers to care for as many as seven children (up from five), not including any children in their care who are relatives. And it allows those providers to accept child care vouchers.

The measure also eliminates a requirement for some licensed providers that the person running it has a high school diploma or any training or experience in child care.
 

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Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) said the bill is not an acceptable solution to the state’s child care shortage.

“The only thing that I have to say is there are no burdensome regulations when it comes to children,” Summers said.

The House sent the bill to the Senate by a 75 to 21 vote, with some Democrats joining Republicans in support.
 

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.