Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO CONSIDER enactment of an Ordinance, the title of which is as follows:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES; AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTERS 7 AND 20 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES ("CODE") RELATING TO MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES; REQUIRING ALL CHILD CARE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME PERSONNEL WHO PROVIDE CARE TO INFANTS TO OBTAIN TRAINING ON PROVIDING AN INFANT SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT; REQUIRING CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES TO IMPLEMENT, MAINTAIN, AND COMPLY WITH WRITTEN POLICIES PROVIDING FOR AN INFANT SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT; UPDATING MINIMUM STANDARDS RELATING TO STAFF-TO-CHILDREN RATIOS FOR CHILDREN NAPPING AND SLEEPING IN CHILD CARE FACILITIES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
 

(Sponsored by Commissioner Nan H. Rich)

ACTION:  (T-11:33 AM)  Filed proof of publication and enacted the Ordinance to become effective on April 2, 2018.

VOTE:  8-0.  Commissioner Geller was not present.

A Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish notice of public hearing to consider enactment of the Ordinance was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of December 12, 2017.

Amends the Code to establish minimum standards (i) for child care facilities and family child care homes relating to napping and sleeping of children including, but not limited to, training required for personnel who care for infants, and (ii) for the implementation of, and compliance with, written policies on providing an infant safe sleep environment.

This proposed Ordinance would establish minimum standards for child care facilities and family child care homes relating to napping and sleeping of children. Among other things, the standards would require personnel who care for infants to obtain training every two years on providing an infant safe sleep environment. The standards would also require documentation of the successful completion of such training. Additionally, the proposed Ordinance would require child care providers to implement, maintain, and comply with written policies providing for an infant safe sleep environment. Enacting standards for an infant safe sleep environment would reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), which includes, but is not limited to, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation.

A Resolution to publish Notice of Public Hearing was scheduled on the March 14, 2017, Commission agenda; however, the agenda item was withdrawn by Commissioner Rich as a result of Child Care Licensing and Enforcement staff being informed that the safe sleep course offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics was being revised. The proposed Ordinance requires child care personnel and family child care home personnel who provide care to infants at child care facilities and family child care homes to successfully complete the most current training course(s) approved by the local licensing agency relating to providing an infant safe sleep environment.

Patrice M. Eichen, Assistant County Attorney, (954) 357-7600