HB 1119 — AN ACT to provide for a legislative management study regarding child care provider licensing; to provide for a program evaluation regarding child care services; and to create a child care services licensing advisory committee.

25.8078.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota FIRSTIn ENGROSSMENTRegular ENGROSSEDSession Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025 HOUSE BILL NO.

1119 Introduced(Human by Human Services CommitteeCommittee) (At the request of the Department of Health and Human Services) AAN BILLACT for an Act to provide for a legislative management study regarding earlychild childhoodcare servicesprovider andlicensing; child care.

to provide for a program evaluation regarding child care services;

and to create a child care services licensing advisory committee.

LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT STUDY - EARLYCHILD CHILDHOODCARE SERVICES.PROVIDER LICENSING.

During the 2025-26 interim, the legislative management shall considerstudy studying the laws, administrative rules, and policies relating to earlychild childhoodcare servicesprovider andlicensing. child care.

TheIf the legislative council conducts a program evaluation of the department of health and human services child care services, the study must:must be informed by the program evaluation.

3.

The study must include input from:

EvaluateThe thedepartment currentof earlyhealth childhood services framework, identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities,human includingservices; opportunities to streamline the administrative process, to enhance clarity for providers, and to provide services for more children.

ConsiderThe licensing requirements, the federal and state assistance programs available, education requirements for program operators, training and certification requirements for staff members, the number of children in an early childhood program, child tocare providerservices ratios,advisory andcommittee; square footage requirements.

and c.

Child care providers.

4.

The legislative management shall report its findings and recommendations, together with any legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the seventieth legislative assembly.

SECTION 2.

LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - CHILD CARE SERVICES.

1.

During the 2025-26 interim, the legislative council shall consider conducting a program evaluation of the department of health and human services child care services.

2.

The program evaluation must include:

a.

Review and analysis of state and federal laws, administrative rules, and policies relating to child care.

b.

Evaluation of the child care services framework, identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities, including opportunities to streamline the administrative process, to enhance clarity for providers, and to provide services for more children.

c.

Consideration of licensing requirements, the federal and state assistance programs available, education requirements for program operators, training and certification requirements for staff members, the number of children in an early childhood program, child to provider ratios, and square footage requirements.

d.

Review and analysis of child care funding sources, expenditures, assistance penetration rates, and the distribution of resources to determine whether the program efficiently and effectively uses and distributes resources to support access to affordable and safe child care.

H.

B.

NO.

1119 - PAGE 2 e.

Review of recently enacted legislation regarding child care services to determine if the policies have been timely implemented and properly administered, including an analysis of measurable goals, performance data, and options to improve enrollment.

By August 1, 2026, the legislative council shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislative management.

4.

PageSECTION No.3.

1CHILD 25.8078.02000CARE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

1.

During the 2025-26 interim, the department of health and human services shall establish a child care services advisory committee to review and provide input on the laws, administrative rules, and the department of health and human services policies relating to child care licensing.