Aiming to ensure a child’s safety during the transfer of care between parents and child care centers, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Annette Quijano to require parents and centers to notify one another of the child’s absence was signed into law Thursday.
Under the law (formerly bill A-3277/S-559), parents/guardians will be required to notify a child care center if their child will be absent that day. If no notification is provided by the parent and the center does not know why a child is absent, they will be required to attempt to get in touch with the parent immediately.
Upon the bill becoming law, Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Quijano (D-Union) issued the following joint statement:
“Every day, New Jerseyans trust the care of their children to child care providers. When our children cannot attend childcare due to sickness, a family obligation or any other reason, our child care workers are benefitted by being informed about a child’s absence.
“This law will help maintain lines of communication between families and child care providers. In particular, this communication is critical in the rare instances in which a parent or guardian leaves a child in a hot car because they are tired or distracted, oftentimes thinking that their child was already dropped off at childcare.
“By ensuring consistent communication between families and child care providers, we can help to bridge a gap that very well may save a child’s life.”
The act, also sponsored by Republican Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, takes effect immediately.