When it comes to House Bill 76, also known as the Alabama Child Care Safety Act, a definite difference of opinion exists among Franklin County legislators.
The bill, which was approved in the Alabama Senate last week and now awaits signature from Gov. Kay Ivey, provides that day cares that receive federal or state monies must now be licensed by the State of Alabama.
Currently, religious-affiliated day care centers are exempt from state licensing requirements.
Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow (D-Red Bay) supported the bill and voted for it in the Alabama House.
“It's the least we can do to assure moms and dads in Alabama that their children are being cared for in licensed facilities with employees who have cleared background checks,” Morrow said.
Morrow said half of Alabama's day care facilities are operated through churches and thus, are exempt from licensing.
Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) was present for the vote on HB 76 last week, but Stutts decided not to vote for or against the legislation. Stutts, an advocate of less government is better government, believes placing children in a safe day care facility is primarily the responsibility of the child's parents.
“I'm 100 percent in favor of safe day care centers. But I think care for your children is primarily a parental responsibility. If you're going to entrust your children to someone else to take care of, it's your responsibility to make sure you're placing them in a safe place,” Stutts said.
The bill originally provided for mandatory licensing for all child care facilities, whether church-operated or not, but was amended to only apply to those facilities receiving state or federal monies.
The bill was introduced in 2017 but did not pass. Stutts voted against the bill last year. A spokesman for Ivey's office said the governor would review the bill before deciding whether to sign it into law.
Stutts said he previously saw the bill as a “complete intrusion into churches that operate day care centers.” His opinion softened this year after some Christian day care groups were allowed input as the bill worked its way through the legislative process.
Stutts also said federal law already requires day care facilities receiving federal monies to run background checks on all employees. He said the two day care centers where children died in Alabama in recent years “were already in violation of federal law.”
Morrow said he's been contacted by several residents wanting him to support the bill.
“I've gotten a number of calls from people who believe it's a very important bill to the children of Alabama who attend day care,” Morrow said. “Why would we, as legislators, not want to do everything we can to contribute to the safety of Alabama's children?”
