HB 118: Education; revise requirements of child care learning centers and family child care learning homes

This bill changes Georgia's early care and learning law (Chapter 1A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated) to add new safety requirements for licensed 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 manual suction to clear a blockage from a child's airway during a choking emergency. The bill then requires every covered center or home to keep at least one of these devices on the premises. It also requires any employee who cares for or supervises children to become 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 if it becomes law without his signature.

• Adds a legal definition of 'portable airway clearance device' to Georgia's early care and learning code (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-2), describing it as a suction device used to clear a child's blocked airway during choking.
• Requires every child care learning center and family child care learning home to keep at least one portable airway clearance device on site (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-10).
• Requires employees who care for or supervise children at these facilities to obtain CPR certification within 45 days of starting employment.
• Sets the effective date as the day the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without his signature.

Licensed child care learning centers and family child care learning homes across Georgia, along with their employees who care for or supervise children, and by extension the families and young children enrolled at these facilities.

Choking is a known risk for young children, and this bill would put a specific anti-choking tool and CPR-trained staff in place at licensed child care settings statewide, potentially changing how quickly a caregiver can respond to a choking emergency.

• Section 1 adds a new definition to O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-2 describing a portable airway clearance device as a suction-based tool for clearing airway blockages during choking.
• Section 2 adds subsection (g.1) to O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-10, requiring covered centers and homes to keep at least one such device on the premises.
• Section 2 also requires employees who care for or supervise children to be CPR certified within 45 days of starting their job.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as approval by the Governor or the bill otherwise becoming 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
• CPR certification
• choking prevention
• early childhood education
• child care regulations