Gov. Brown signs child care safety legislation

Oregon Governor Kate Brown on Friday signed HB 4065 into law, which provides the state with stronger tools to keep children in child care facilities safe.

The legislation allows the state to take stronger and quicker action against both licensed and illegal child care facilities. Among those actions are significantly higher penalties for those who are violating the law, the governor’s office said in a news release.

In addition to passing the bill, the Legislature approved the governor’s request for nearly $2 million; the funding will be used to add staff in the Early Learning Division to address safety and quality issues, and to fund testing for lead in drinking water at small child care facilities.

Brown said the additional staffing will help reduce caseloads and allow for more coordination between the Early Learning Division and the Oregon Department of Human Services on instances of child abuse or neglect in child care facilities.

“Oregon families deserve safe and high-quality child care regardless of where they live or who they choose to care for their children. HB 4065 and the additional staffing funding will help provide the state with the tools and resources needed to protect our youngest Oregonians,” Brown said. “We know there is more work to do, and will continue to focus on improving Oregon’s system of early education and care.”