Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 1, 1990 TAG: 9006010035
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVE VALLEY
SOURCE: Kim Sunderland
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Omnibus Child Care Bill could bring approximately 10,000 additional day care sites under some form of regulation by removing licensing exceptions for preschools and nursery schools, government sponsors of day care and hospital-sponsored child care for employees.
The bill was passed in response to a report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in 1989 that found the scope of child-care regulation in Virginia was too narrow; that initiatives were needed to improve availability, affordability and quality of care; and that the majority of children were in unregulated child care.
The bill, however, does retain licensing exemptions for religious-sponsored centers, camps, pre-schools and nursery schools; regular public and private schools and Sunday schools; and also for family homes caring for fewer than six youngsters.
"The bill won't go into effect until 1992 in order to give people a chance to react," said Donna Baber, regional licensing administrator for the state Department of Social Services. "And people need to get prepared for its implementation."
Another bill passed by the General Assembly will create a pilot program in the Petersburg school system to offer child care in the schools for teen-age mothers.
The project is an effort to combat the 80 percent dropout rate among teen mothers who could not get child care.
"This will allow teen-age mothers to continue their education," said Del. Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg.
"This pilot program will hopefully begin next year and many people will be watching it to see if it works."
On the national level, each house of Congress also has completed action on its own child care bill.
A conference committee will work on resolving differences between the House and Senate bills and area child care specialists will be watching to determine what additional action can be taken in the county.
"There should be a government investment," said Mary Ellen Verdu, director of Montgomery County Social Services.
"Even if they don't care about the kids, but do about the economy."
by CNB