ORS tit. 30, ch. 329A, CHILD CARE FACILITIES, MISCELLANEOUS, TEMPORARY PROVISIONS RELATING to PILOT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR MICRO CENTERS ARE COMPILED AS NOTES FOLLOWING ORS 329A.460
ORS tit. 30, ch. 329A, CHILD CARE FACILITIES, MISCELLANEOUS, TEMPORARY PROVISIONS RELATING to PILOT PROGRAM TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR MICRO CENTERS ARE COMPILED AS NOTES FOLLOWING ORS 329A.460
Sections 1 and 2, chapter 374, Oregon Laws 2023, provide:
Sec. 1. (1) As used in this section, "micro center" means a child care program located inside a residential or nonresidential facility that on a regular basis serves a minimum of three and a maximum of 30 children for more than four hours a day.
(2) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall establish and administer by rule a pilot program to develop a sustainable model for micro centers to provide affordable, high-quality early learning opportunities to communities in this state.
(3) Under the program, the department shall provide technical assistance to program participants to maximize the potential for micro centers to succeed and serve as a model for others to increase access to child care services in this state.
(4)(a) Any child care facility in this state may apply to participate in the program administered under this section.
(b) The department shall select three child care facilities to participate in the program as follows:
(A) Select one child care facility from the Oregon coast, one child care facility from eastern Oregon and one child care facility from the Willamette Valley, as determined based on criteria established by the department.
(B) Give priority to applicants from communities in this state that have the greatest need for child care and that agree to participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.
(5) At a minimum, the department shall:
(a) Establish application processes and timelines by which applicants may apply to the department to participate in the program;
(b) Provide for the department to review and consider applicant eligibility on a first-come, first-served basis; and
(c) Establish eligibility criteria for approving or rejecting each application on the basis of factors that may include, but need not be limited to, the socioeconomic status of the population to be served.
(6) The department shall consult with relevant stakeholders and adopt guidelines for the program that streamline the development of micro centers, foster innovation within the child care industry and inform future regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, guidelines related to:
(a) Staff qualifications that are appropriate for a micro center operating in a community that lacks a sufficient number of college-educated child care providers and child care facilities;
(b) Allowing a director of a micro center to provide child care services to children at the micro center in addition to handling administrative responsibilities;
(c) Facility requirements, including health and safety requirements, that are appropriate for a micro center operating in a building that was not initially designed for child care but can be adapted to provide child care under the program;
(d) Age-group requirements that allow for mixed-aged groups and flexible classrooms arrangements; and
(e) Adult-to-child ratio and maximum group requirements based on available square footage, plumbing, staffing and other best practices for small child care operations in child care deserts.
(7) The department shall prepare and submit a report in the manner provided in ORS 192.245 on the implementation of the micro center pilot program established under this section, and may include recommendations for legislation, to a committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to early learning and care on or before September 15, 2025. [2023 c. 374, § 1]
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this 2023 Act is repealed on January 2, 2026. [2023 c. 374, § 2]