Rating: 0

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Bill Summary:

House Bill 312 revises Idaho’s daycare licensing laws by repealing existing administrative rules and codifying those standards into statute. It defines terms such as “operator,” “provider,” and “group size,” and establishes statutory requirements for background checks, safety measures, staff-to-child ratios, and facility standards. It prohibits certain disciplinary practices—such as corporal punishment and physical restraint—and mandates training and emergency preparedness protocols for licensed facilities.

The bill empowers the Department of Health and Welfare to inspect, license, and, when necessary, suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance. However, it retains administrative due process and appeals mechanisms. The bill applies only to facilities caring for seven or more children, leaving smaller or informal providers unaffected.

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Reason for Rating:

Although H0312 expands and formalizes daycare regulations, much of its content reflects existing administrative rules that are now being transferred into statute. Rather than significantly growing government scope, it aims to standardize enforcement, clarify expectations for providers, and increase legal consistency across the state. The bill does not affect home-based care for six or fewer children, preserving parental choice for families seeking alternatives to licensed facilities. Because it neither clearly violates nor advances core Republican platform priorities such as local control or limited government—but does offer structural clarity and preserves private alternatives—it is appropriately rated as neutral (0).