HB118: HB118 Education; revise requirements of child care learning centers and family child care learning homes

This bill changes Georgia's early care and learning law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 1A of Title 20), which governs child care learning centers and family child care learning homes. It adds a legal definition for a 'portable airway clearance device,' described as a portable medical device that uses manually created suction to clear a blocked airway during a choking emergency. The bill then requires every child care learning center and family child care learning home to keep at least one of these devices on the premises. It also requires that any employee who cares for or supervises children be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within 45 days of starting the job. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law without his signature.

• Defines a new term, 'portable airway clearance device,' as a suction-based device used to clear a blocked airway during choking (Section 1).
• Requires child care learning centers and family child care learning homes to keep at least one such device on site at all times (Section 2).
• Requires staff who care for or supervise children to become certified in CPR within 45 days of starting employment (Section 2).
• Sets the law to take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature or enactment without his signature (Section 3).

Licensed child care learning centers and family child care learning homes in Georgia, the employees who care for or supervise children at those facilities, and by extension the children and families who rely on that care are all affected by these new equipment and certification requirements.

If enacted, child care providers would need to buy anti-choking devices and get staff CPR certified within a set timeframe, adding compliance steps and costs for centers and homes, while aiming to give caregivers more tools to respond to choking emergencies involving young children.

• Section 1 amends the definitions section of Georgia's early care and learning law (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-2) to add 'portable airway clearance device.'
• Section 2 adds a new subsection (g.1) to O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-10 requiring centers and homes to keep at least one airway clearance device on the premises.
• Section 2 also requires employees who care for or supervise children to be CPR certified within 45 days of starting employment.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without his signature.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-01-28House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-27House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-17House Hopper (House)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)

• child care safety
• choking prevention
• CPR certification
• early childhood education
• Georgia child care regulations