LB 808 — Create a child care licensing pilot program under the Child Care Licensing Act

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a child care licensing pilot program that allows for the waiver of certain licensing requirements and grants specific powers to the Director of Public Health.

• 71-1908

  Sections 71-1908 to 71-1923.03 and sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Care Licensing Act. → Sections 71-1908 to 71-1923.03 and sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the Child Care Licensing Act.

  This change updates the citation of the Child Care Licensing Act without altering its content.

• 71-1908

  (2) The Legislature finds that there is a present and growing need for quality child care programs and facilities. There is a need to establish and maintain licensure of persons providing such programs to ensure that such persons are competent and are using safe and adequate facilities. The Legislature further finds and declares that the development and supervision of programs are a matter of statewide concern and should be dealt with uniformly on the state and local levels. There is a need for cooperation among the various state and local agencies which impose standards on licensees, and there should be one agency which coordinates the enforcement of such standards and informs the Legislature about cooperation among the various agencies.

  This addition emphasizes the importance of quality child care programs and the uniformity in licensing across the state.

• Sec. 2. (1) The Director of Public Health of the Division of Public Health of the Department of Health and Human Services may enter into a contract with any number of licensees to develop and operate a pilot program designed to increase the availability or capacity of day care facilities in the state.

  This provision allows the Director of Public Health to create a pilot program to enhance child care facility availability.

• (2) The director may grant licensure to a person to maintain a facility in a pilot program under this section that waives the requirements of the rules and regulations related to licensure and operation of a day care facility or youth development program, including requirements for staff at such day care facility or youth development program.

  This grants the ability to waive certain licensing requirements for facilities in the pilot program.

• (3) The director shall not grant a license under this section if the director determines that a day care facility or youth development program or a staff member of such facility or program would endanger the health, safety, and welfare of a child.

  This adds a safety provision ensuring no licensing occurs if health or safety is at risk.

• (4) The director may grant licensure to a person to maintain a facility under this section for no more than five years.

  This limits the duration for which a facility can hold a license under the pilot program to five years.

• (5) If the director determines that a pilot program established under this section is successful and increases the availability or capacity of child care facilities in the state, the director shall make suggestions and recommendations to the Legislature for statutory changes.

  This mandates a review of the pilot program's success and encourages legislative action based on its outcomes.

• Sec. 3. A person granted licensure to maintain a facility may request a waiver from the requirements of the Child Care Licensing Act for a specific period of time from the Director of Public Health.

  This introduces a formal process for requesting waivers from certain licensing requirements.

• Waiver requests shall be granted on a case-by-case basis.

  This sets forth that waivers will not be granted universally but rather evaluated individually.

• 71-1908

  71-1908

  This repeals the original text of section 71-1908.

Action History

1. April 17, 2026

   Indefinitely postponed

2. January 20, 2026

   Notice of hearing for January 28, 2026

3. January 09, 2026

   Referred to Health and Human Services Committee

4. January 08, 2026

   Kauth FA437 filed

5. January 07, 2026

   Date of introduction

Sponsors

• Teresa Ibach · Primary

Subjects