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New Child Care Licensing Laws Now in Effect in KS

Topkea, KS – New child care laws are now in effect in Kansas.

Since July 1, "Lexie's Law" has been on the books. It requires all day care facilities in the state to be licensed and inspected, as opposed to in the past, when many were not required to be inspected.

All child care facilities in Kansas will be inspected at least once every 12 months under the new law.

Another provision of the law requires the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to develop a web site for parents who are looking for a day care provider.

"It's making it easier for families and the public to access day care compliance history, help them see who has been doing what they need to do and meeting compliance, and if there's been any history with that daycare," says KDHE spokesperson Katie Patterson-Ingels.

Patterson-Ingels says the online system is currently being developed.

"Lexie's Law" was enacted after the death of a 13-month-old girl named Lexie, who died in a Mission home day care in 2004. More than 70 serious injuries were reported in Kansas day care facilities in the past year.

 

As the Kansas News Service managing editor, I help our statewide team of reporters find the important issues and breaking news that impact people statewide. We refine our daily stories to illustrate the issues and events that affect the health, well-being and economic stability of the people of Kansas. Email me at skoranda@kcur.org.
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