HB 269: Education; revise requirements of child care learning centers and family child care learning homes

Georgia law currently regulates child care learning centers and family child care learning homes but does not specifically require them to carry general liability insurance. This bill amends Georgia's early care and learning law (O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-10) to add that requirement. Under the bill, these child care providers would have to maintain a commercial general liability insurance policy or policies covering bodily injury and property damage. The minimum coverage would be $500,000 for a single occurrence and $1 million in total (the aggregate limit across all claims). The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it, or automatically becomes law without a signature.

• Adds a new subsection to Georgia's early care and learning law requiring child care learning centers and family child care learning homes to carry commercial general liability insurance.
• Sets a minimum coverage amount of $500,000 for bodily injury and property damage from a single incident.
• Sets a minimum aggregate coverage amount of $1 million across all claims under the policy.
• Would take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without his signature.

Licensed child care learning centers and family child care learning homes across Georgia, along with the families and children who use their services, since these providers would need to obtain and maintain qualifying insurance coverage to keep operating.

Child care providers that do not already carry this level of liability coverage would need to purchase or upgrade insurance policies, which could affect their operating costs. Families using these facilities would gain assurance that a baseline insurance policy is in place to cover injuries or property damage.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-10 by adding subsection (g.1), requiring child care learning centers and family child care learning homes to maintain commercial general liability insurance.
• The required coverage must be no less than $500,000 for a single occurrence and $1 million in the aggregate.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or the date it becomes law without his signature.
• Section 3 repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new requirement.

1. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)Primary sponsor
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• child care regulation
• insurance requirements
• early childhood education
• family child care homes