Sign Up
SB 252 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Child Care Centers - Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement - Alteration

SB 252 removes a requirement that child care centers in Maryland serving more than 20 children must have at least one staff member certified in first aid and CPR for every 20 children. This repeal eliminates a specific ratio rule related to emergency medical training for staff. The bill does not change other safety or operational standards for child care centers, such as emergency plans or staff age requirements. The change applies to centers currently serving more than 20 children under Maryland's licensing regulations.
Issues: ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves mandatory first aid/CPR certification ratio for child care staff, weakening workplace safety standards for this specific workforce sector.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Oct 7, 2024 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Child Care Centers - Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement - Repeal → Enrolled - Child Care Centers - Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement - Alteration · 3 edits · May 6, 2025
MINOR
The bill transitioned from a draft proposal to repeal child care staff ratio rules to an enrolled law that alters those rules. The primary substantive change is the insertion of a placeholder allowing the Department of Education to set specific staff-to-child ratios, replacing a fixed requirement of one certified staff member for every 20 children. This shift moves the decision-making power from the legislature to the administrative agency, enabling more flexible staffing standards.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on child care centers in Maryland, but the applicability of the staffing requirements is now subject to departmental discretion rather than a rigid statutory mandate.
REQUIREMENT

Replaced a fixed staffing ratio of 1 certified staff member per 20 children with a placeholder 'CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO CHILDREN SET BY THE DEPARTMENT', allowing the agency to determine the specific ratio.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and header to reflect that the law is now 'Enrolled' and includes an 'Alteration' rather than just a 'Repeal'.

Changed the legislative intent language from 'repealing a requirement' to 'repealing altering a requirement' to accurately describe the modification of existing rules.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2025

How they voted

43–1
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 46
Mar 23, 2025
D Democratic33
31 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican13
12 Yea 1 Nay
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 318
executive
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Enrolled
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Senate Concurs House Amendments
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means
lower
Mar 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-1-2)
senate
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred Ways and Means
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Jan 8, 2025
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Oct 7, 2024
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.