Alabama lawmakers are expected to debate a proposal that would require all day care facilities to be regulated by the state, and would end a longstanding exemption for faith-based facilities.
The bill is currently scheduled at the end of tomorrow’s debate agenda in the state House of Representatives.
Rep. Pebblin Warren, the bill's sponsor, says the faith-based loophole leaves children vulnerable to abuse and neglect. VOICES for Alabama's Children says Alabama is one of only seven states broadly exempting faith-based day care facilities from regulation.
Warren delayed a vote last month. The proposal has been met with pushback from some church-affiliated day care facilities.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources supports the plan and says about half of day cares in the state are currently uninspected. Exempt facilities also do not have to meet various state regulations, such as worker-to-child ratios.
