HB 2492 — An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in departmental powers and duties as to licensing, providing for power of department to require insurance and for notification of child care closure.

PRINTER'S NO.   3376

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2492
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, McNEILL, GUZMAN, MAYES, SHUSTERMAN,
        SANCHEZ, NEILSON, POWELL, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, D. WILLIAMS AND
        DOUGHERTY, MAY 6, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MAY 7, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
 2      act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
 3      welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in departmental powers and
 4      duties as to licensing, providing for power of department to
 5      require insurance and for notification of child care closure.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
 9   as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
10   read:
11      Section 1004.    Power of Department to Require Insurance.--The
12   department may, as to a child care center, prescribe, by
13   regulation or order, such requirements as it may deem necessary
14   to ensure that a child care center is able to operate for the
15   period under section 1090, including the filing of surety bonds,
16   the carrying of insurance or a requirement to hold financial
17   reserves. A child care center shall hold coverage or reserves in
18   such amounts as the department may prescribe, but not less than
19   an amount to cover thirty days of operations, including wages
 1   and other operating costs.
 2      Section 2.   Article X of the act is amended by adding a
 3   subarticle to read:
 4                      (e)   Miscellaneous Provisions
 5      Section 1091.   Notification of Child Care Closure.--(a)    A
 6   child care center or family child care home that intends to
 7   close or cease its operations shall provide notification in
 8   writing to the department, employees and parents and guardians
 9   of children in the care of the child care center or family child
10   care home no less than thirty days prior to the anticipated
11   closing. The notice shall include a plan for the storage and
12   preservation of all required records.
13      (b)   If a child care center or family child care home
14   violates subsection (a), the child care center or family child
15   care home shall be liable to a parent or guardian of a child in
16   its care for child care expenses or lost wages incurred during
17   each day of the violation.
18      (c)   This section does not apply if the reason for the
19   closure is a disaster emergency, as declared by the Governor
20   under section 20 of Article IV of the Constitution of
21   Pennsylvania.
22      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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