EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. Chapter 432A of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 9, inclusive, of this act.

1-3 Sec. 2. The chief shall encourage and assist organizations that offer

1-4 toll-free telephone services for the provision of information regarding

1-5 child care to include in those services the provision of information

1-6 regarding:

1-7 1. All child care facilities that are currently licensed pursuant to NRS

1-8 432A.131 to 432A.220, inclusive, and sections 7, 8 and 9 of this act;

2-1 2. All referral services for child care in this state;

2-2 3. All child care facilities in this state that have been denied a license

2-3 or have had their licenses suspended, revoked or otherwise terminated;

2-4 4. The results of inspections conducted pursuant to NRS 432A.180;

2-5 and

2-6 5. Complaints regarding child care facilities in this state, including

2-7 the nature of the complaints, the status or outcome of the complaints and

2-8 any penalties imposed.

2-9 Sec. 3. 1. The child care quality account is hereby created in the

2-10 state general fund.

2-11 2. The chief shall administer the account and may accept gifts and

2-12 grants of money from any source for deposit in the account. The chief

2-13 may expend money in the account only to carry out the provisions of

2-14 section 4 of this act.

2-15 3. The interest and income earned on the money in the account, after

2-16 deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the account. The

2-17 money in the account does not lapse to the state general fund at the end

2-18 of a fiscal year. All claims against the account must be paid as other

2-19 claims against the state are paid.

2-20 Sec. 4. The chief shall:

2-21 1. Establish a program to assist in:

2-22 (a) Improving the education and training of providers of child care in

2-23 this state;

2-24 (b) Increasing the accreditation of providers of child care in this state

2-25 by:

2-26 (1) The National Association for the Education of Young Children

2-27 or its successor organization; or

2-28 (2) Any other accrediting body approved by the board;

2-29 (c) Increasing the ratio of the number of persons providing child care

2-30 in this state to the number of children receiving child care in this state;

2-31 (d) Increasing the remuneration of providers of child care in this

2-32 state;

2-33 (e) Decreasing the turnover rate among persons employed to provide

2-34 child care in this state; and

2-35 (f) Providing loans for the construction and renovation of child care

2-36 facilities in this state.

2-37 2. Prepare and advertise a request for proposals by independent

2-38 contractors to assist in carrying out the program established pursuant to

2-39 subsection 1. Any contract awarded to such a contractor must be

3-1 awarded by competitive selection and require the contractor to provide

3-2 funding to carry out the program in an amount that is not less than the

3-3 amount of money provided to the contractor by the chief.

3-4 Sec. 5. The department shall adopt a payment schedule, applicable

3-5 to all programs pursuant to which the department reimburses a child

3-6 care facility for the provision of child care, which provides for the

3-7 payment, at a rate that is 10 percent greater than the usual and

3-8 customary rate of payment, of a child care facility that is accredited by:

3-9 1. The National Association for the Education of Young Children or

3-10 its successor organization; or

3-11 2. Any other accrediting body approved by the board.

3-12 Sec. 6. 1. The board shall adopt regulations requiring the staff of a

3-13 child care facility to obtain appropriate training and continuing

3-14 education in child care and the operation of a child care facility.

3-15 2. The instruction required pursuant to this section must be obtained

3-16 in:

3-17 (a) Courses approved for the award of academic credit by a university

3-18 or community college within the University and Community College

3-19 System of Nevada; or

3-20 (b) A program of instruction approved by the bureau that encourages

3-21 the categorization of professions in child care based upon education and

3-22 experience.

3-23 Sec. 7. The operator of a child care facility shall display, in a

3-24 conspicuous place in the facility that is clearly visible to the general

3-25 public:

3-26 1. His license to operate the child care facility; and

3-27 2. The most recent reports he has received regarding the results of

3-28 inspections of the facility conducted pursuant to NRS 432A.180.

3-29 Sec. 8. 1. The bureau shall not renew the license of a child care

3-30 facility unless:

3-31 (a) The bureau has:

3-32 (1) Inspected the facility pursuant to subsection 1 of NRS 432A.180

3-33 within the immediately preceding year and determined that the facility is

3-34 operating in a satisfactory manner;

3-35 (2) Resolved to its satisfaction any reports it has received regarding

3-36 the alleged violation by the facility of a statute or regulation of this state

3-37 relating to child care facilities; and

3-38 (3) Determined that all the staff of the facility have obtained the

3-39 instruction required pursuant to section 6 of this act; or

3-40 (b) The bureau and the child care facility have agreed to a plan for

3-41 the correction by the facility of any grounds for the bureau to deny the

3-42 renewal of the license pursuant to paragraph (a).

4-1 2. An application submitted to the bureau for the renewal of a

4-2 license issued pursuant to this chapter must be accompanied by such

4-3 documentation as the bureau deems necessary to carry out this section.

4-4 Sec. 9. The bureau shall ensure that an employee or other member

4-5 of the bureau who conducts inspections pursuant to NRS 432A.180 has

4-6 received training in:

4-7 1. The principles of child development in early childhood;

4-8 2. Procedures to ensure the safety and security of children in child

4-9 care facilities;

4-10 3. The recognition of and strategies for the prevention of child

4-11 abuse;

4-12 4. The statutes and regulations of this state regarding the abuse and

4-13 neglect of children; and

4-14 5. The standards adopted pursuant to NRS 432A.077 to ensure the

4-15 quality of care provided by child care facilities.

4-16 Sec. 10. NRS 432A.035 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-17 432A.035 [The] Except as otherwise provided in section 5 of this act,

4-20 human resources pursuant to chapter 422 of NRS.

4-21 Sec. 11. NRS 432A.077 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-22 432A.077 1. The board shall adopt:

5-1 3. If the board finds that the practices and policies of a child care

5-2 facility are substantially equivalent to those required by the board in its

5-3 regulations, it may waive compliance with a particular standard or other

5-4 regulation by that facility.

5-5 Sec. 12. NRS 432A.131 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-6 432A.131 1. Child care facilities in any county or incorporated city

5-37 do so at least 12 months before the amendment or repeal becomes effective.

5-38 Sec. 13. NRS 432A.180 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-39 432A.180 1. Any authorized member or employee of the bureau may

5-43 or a standard or other regulation adopted by the board. The bureau shall

6-1 ensure that an inspection is conducted pursuant to this subsection at least

6-2 annually and as soon as is practicable after the bureau receives a report

6-3 that a child care facility has committed or is committing a violation of a

6-4 provision of this chapter or a standard or other regulation adopted by the

6-5 board that may be detrimental to the health or safety of a child receiving

6-6 care.

6-7 2. The state fire marshal or his designate shall, at least annually:

6-8 (a) Enter and inspect every building or premises of a child care facility,

6-9 on behalf of the bureau; and

6-10 (b) Observe and make recommendations regarding the drills conducted

6-11 pursuant to NRS 432A.077,

6-12 to secure compliance with standards for safety from fire and other

6-13 emergencies.

6-14 3. The state health officer or his designate shall enter and inspect at

6-15 least annually, every building or premises of a child care facility and area

6-16 of operation of an outdoor youth program, on behalf of the bureau, to

6-17 secure compliance with standards for health and sanitation.

6-18 4. A child care facility may be inspected pursuant to this section

6-19 without prior notice.

6-20 Sec. 14. The chief of the bureau of services for child care of the

6-21 division of child and family services of the department of human resources:

6-22 1. Shall use his best efforts to ensure that the program established

6-23 pursuant to section 4 of this act is achieving successful results before

6-24 January 1, 2001.

6-25 2. Shall:

6-26 (a) Cause an independent study to be conducted to determine:

6-27 (1) The extent to which the program established pursuant to section 4

6-28 of this act has resulted in any:

6-29 (I) Improvement in the average amount of education and training

6-30 obtained by providers of child care in this state;

6-31 (II) Increase in the number of providers of child care in this state

6-32 who have obtained or are in the process of obtaining accreditation from the

6-33 National Association for the Education of Young Children or its successor

6-34 organization, or from any other accrediting body approved by the board for

6-35 child care;

6-36 (III) Increase in the ratio of the number of persons providing child

6-37 care in this state to the number of children receiving child care in this state;

6-38 (IV) Increase in the average amount of remuneration received by

6-39 providers of child care in this state; and

6-40 (V) Decrease in the turnover rate among persons employed to

6-41 provide child care in this state; and

7-1 (2) The effect of the program established pursuant to section 4 of this

7-2 act on the number, amount and purpose of any loans provided for the

7-3 construction and renovation of child care facilities in this state; and

7-4 (b) Submit the findings of the study to:

7-5 (1) The board for child care; and

7-6 (2) The legislative commission or, if the legislature is in general

7-7 session, the senate standing committee on human resources and facilities

7-8 and the assembly standing committee on health and human services.

7-9 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this act, may expend

7-10 money from the child care quality account created pursuant to section 3 of

7-11 this act to carry out the provisions of subsection 2.

7-12 Sec. 15. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to

7-13 the child care quality account created pursuant to section 3 of this act the

7-14 sum of $50,000.

7-15 Sec. 16. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund

7-16 to the City of Las Vegas the sum of $350,000 for continued support of the

7-17 child care training program currently operated by the City of Las Vegas.

7-18 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

7-19 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2001, and reverts to

7-20 the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have

7-21 been made.

7-22 Sec. 17. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.