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2004 SESSION
WHEREAS, child-care services in Virginia represent a vital part of the human services spectrum, and the regulation of child-care services is important to the health, safety and development of children enrolled in such programs; and
WHEREAS, regulation 22 VAC 15-30, Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, sets forth guidelines by which licensed child day centers in the Commonwealth must operate, and addresses administration, staff qualifications and training, physical plant, staffing and supervision programs, special care provisions and emergencies, and special services; and
WHEREAS, a report prepared for the Board of Social Services, A Study of the Quality Affordability and Accessibility of Child Care in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Senate Document 4 (2000), noted that 95 percent of parents are satisfied with the quality of child-care services, and that Virginia enjoys low staff turnover and a stable workforce in child care; and
WHEREAS, the study further noted that at least five percent of parents were not satisfied with the quality of care their children were receiving, that 28 percent of parents surveyed considered moving their child due to safety and health concerns, that 21 percent of parents surveyed reported actually moving their children due to safety and health concerns; and 34 percent of parents surveyed reported that they would be willing to pay more for child care if the number of children in their child's classroom was reduced by even one child; and
WHEREAS, the study reported that parents view as the most important attributes of child care "loving and attentive care" (37 percent and 49 percent, respectively) and "safety and security" (36 percent and 33 percent, respectively); and
WHEREAS, the study reported that there is no discernible failure in the market for child-care services in Virginia, and the market for child-care services in Virginia functions efficiently for households with children age six and under; and
WHEREAS, the study, however, noted that 47 percent of parents surveyed reported that their search for an appropriate child-care arrangement was either somewhat difficult (28 percent) or very difficult (18 percent); and
WHEREAS, amendments to regulation 22 VAC 15-30 intended to enhance the early care and development of children have been proposed and are being considered by means of the Administrative Process Act; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the potential impact of the amended 22 VAC 15-30, Standards for Licensed Child Day Care Centers, on providers, parents, and children. The Commission shall examine the amended 22 VAC 15-30, as approved by the Child Day-Care Council, but prior to approval by the Governor, and the Governor is requested to consider the results of the study prior to his approval of the regulation.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Commission by the Department of Social Services for this study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services no later than September 15, 2004. The Commission shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2005 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.