Cooper signs eleven bills into law, including two involving child care | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal. The author of this post is Theresa Opeka.

    Two bills involving child care were among eleven signed into law Monday by Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper.

    H.B. 674, Child Advocacy Centers/Share Information, establishes requirements for child advocacy centers regarding what data they collect and share with the state that would protect that information and allow them to be eligible for state funds for services provided by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. It passed in the House unanimously, 105-0, in April, and on June 29, it passed unanimously in the Senate, 39-0.

    S.B. 722, Child Care Flexibilities, which passed unanimously in the Senate in April, 48-0, and unanimously 113-0 in the House, on June 28, provides other options in recruiting and retaining pre-K childcare workers through a new child development associate credential.

    Under the bill, NCDHHS must establish criteria for two sets of credentials by March 31, 2024. The first is for those working with children from birth to age three and from ages three to five.

    All applicants must have a high school diploma, general education development (GED) credential, or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education. A complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training is also required.

    There is also a requirement to complete no fewer than ten training hours in each of the following eight subject areas:

• Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
• Advancing children's physical and intellectual development
• Supporting children's social and emotional development
• Building productive relationships with families
• Managing an effective program operation
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
• Observing and recording children's behavior
• Understanding the principles of child development and learning

    The training can be achieved through either a single agency or multiple organizations.

    The individual would be evaluated within six months of applying for the CDA credential.

    Within three years of applying for the certification, individuals must obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based setting with children from birth to three or three to five years of age.

    The act becomes effective on October 1.

    Cooper also signed H.B. 203, DST Technical Corrections.-AB, H.B. 181, Unclaimed Property Division Changes.-AB, H.B. 628, Amend On-Site Wastewater/Environment Statutes, H.B. 782, Movie Sets/Radon/Licensee Experience, H.B. 814, Emergency Management Mods, H.B. 173 Treasury Administrative Changes Act.-AB, H.B. 387 Medal of Valor Award for First Responders, H.B. 484 Mental Health Confidential Info. Disclosure, and S.B 91, Amend Rule 4/Acceptance of Service.