Effort To Post Day Care Info Online Moves Forward In Sacramento
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A bill that would require California to place child day care records online is headed to the state Senate after sailing through the Assembly.
Co-authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, a Bell Gardens lawmaker and self-described "working mom," Assembly Bill 2621 aims to make it easier for parents to uncover problems with inspections, violations and complaints by requiring the Department of Social Services to post substantiated complaints on its website.
Existing state law does not provide a source for parents to learn about inspection and complaint reports that have been filed against state-licensed day care, pre-school and after-school programs, according to Garcia.
Garcia told KNX1070 NEWSRADIO a parent should be able to find out as much about where they're leaving the child online as they can about other consumer products and services.
"When I first found out that I could get way more information online about my nail shop or my hair salon, and its safety and violations, it just seemed to me that how are we not putting out more information about those that we love the most?" Garcia said.
Both authors stressed that reporting a violation means little if the information is not made transparent and readily available to families who are searching for potential child care providers.
AB 2621 passed the Assembly Floor in a 76-0 vote and is expected to be referred to a Senate policy committee in the coming weeks.
