Parents of children in daycares throughout Ohio sometimes don’t know when those facilities have been found by the state to have engaged in unsafe behavior. But a bill that’s working its way through the state legislature is designed to change that.
HB 383, which was introduced by state Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa), is nicknamed “Chase’s Law” after a two-year-old who was left behind on a field trip by his caretakers. He was found safe, but the daycare did not inform his parents or the state until three days later.
Carfagna says the other parents with children in the daycare didn’t know either.
“The concern here is all of the other parents beyond those who may be immediately impacted,” Carfagna says. “While many parents take great care to vet daycares when choosing where to send their child, they may not be aware of egregious violations at their existing daycare, not think to police their daycare on an on-going basis, especially if their experience has been positive.”
Carfagna’s bill would require a daycare to let parents know when the state has determined it was liable for a risky situation.
The bill passed the Ohio House in June and is awaiting hearings in the Senate.
