THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD AND CONKLIN, FEBRUARY 13, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, FEBRUARY 13, 2009  

AN ACT

Requiring certain facilities and persons that provide child day

care to install video camera surveillance systems; and

conferring powers and duties on the Department of Public

Welfare.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Video Camera

Surveillance in Child Day-Care Facilities Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Child day care."  Care in lieu of parental care given for

part of a 24-hour day to a child under 16 years of age away from

the child's home. The term does not include care in lieu of

parental care given to a child under 16 years of age in a place

of worship during religious services.

"Child day-care center."  Any premises in which child day

care is provided simultaneously for seven or more children who

are not relatives of the provider, regardless of which article

of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public

Welfare Code, applies to it.

"Department."  The Department of Public Welfare of the

Commonwealth.

"Facility."  Any of the following:

(1)  Child day-care center.

(2)  Family day-care home.

"Family day-care home."  A home in which child day care is

provided at any one time to four, five or six children who are

not relatives of the provider of the child day care and which is

required to be registered under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.

31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code.

Section 3.  Video camera surveillance systems.

(a)  Duty to install and maintain.--Each facility shall

install and maintain video camera surveillance systems that meet

or exceed the specifications for such systems as established by

regulation of the department.

(b)  Regulations.--The department shall promulgate

regulations that provide specifications for video camera

surveillance systems in facilities and standards for the use of

such systems.

(c)  Inspections.--The department may conduct inspections of

facilities to investigate compliance with this act.

Section 4.  Applicability.

This act shall apply to facilities that commence operations

after the effective date of this section.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.