HB 524 — An Act requiring child-care centers to install video camera surveillance systems; and conferring powers and duties on the Department of Human Services.

PRINTER'S NO.   516

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        HOUSE BILL
                        No. 524
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, PROBST, PIELLI,
        McNEILL, STEELE AND CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 5, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Requiring child-care centers to install video camera
 2      surveillance systems; and conferring powers and duties on the
 3      Department of Human Services.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Short title.
 7      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Video Camera
 8   Surveillance in Child-Care Centers Act.
 9   Section 2.   Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12   context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Child care."   Care in lieu of parental care given for part
14   of a 24-hour day to a child under 16 years of age away from the
15   child's home. The term does not include care in lieu of parental
16   care given to a child under 16 years of age in a place of
17   worship during religious services.
18      "Child-care center."     Any premises in which child care is
 1   provided simultaneously for seven or more children who are not
 2   relatives of the provider, regardless of which article of the
 3   act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human
 4   Services Code, applies to it.
 5      "Department."    The Department of Human Services of the
 6   Commonwealth.
 7   Section 3.    Video camera surveillance systems.
 8      (a)   Duty to install and maintain.--A child-care center shall
 9   install and maintain video camera surveillance systems that meet
10   or exceed the specifications established by regulation of the
11   department.
12      (b)   Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
13   regulations that provide specifications for video camera
14   surveillance systems in child-care centers and standards for the
15   use of the systems.
16      (c)   Inspections.--The department may conduct inspections of
17   child-care centers to investigate compliance with this act.
18   Section 4.    Applicability.
19      This act shall apply to child-care centers that commence
20   operations after the effective date of this section.
21   Section 5.    Effective date.
22      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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