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Bill Summary · SB 1052

Summary of S.B. 1052 (Session 2025) – North Carolina

Title

Amend Child Care Definitions/FFN Providers

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a formal statutory definition for “license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care providers” under the laws regulating child care.
  • Clarify the status of FFN providers who care for children in informal arrangements outside the licensed child care system.
  • Enable data collection, improve access to support services and food programs, and provide a legal foundation for future policies targeting FFN providers.
  • Importantly, the bill states that defining FFN providers does not impose licensing requirements or otherwise convert them into licensed facilities.

Key Provisions

Section 1 – New Definition

Adds a new subdivision to G.S. 110-86(6a):
- Definition: A license-exempt FFN child care provider is an individual who:
1) Provides childcare to one or more children who are not their own biological, adopted, or step-children, and not children for whom they are a legal guardian.
2) Operates in a setting not required to be licensed as a child care facility due to the number of children served, the nature of the arrangement, or an exemption under G.S. 110-86(2).
3) Has a pre-existing familial, social, or community relationship with the child or the child’s family (e.g., grandparent, aunt/uncle, sibling over 18, family friend, or neighbor).
4) Is in compliance with all applicable state requirements for legally operating a child care arrangement (including notifications, disclosures, or registrations adopted by the Department under this Article).

  • Important clarifications:
    • The term does not include individuals who are required to obtain a license under this Article.
    • The definition does not require FFN providers to obtain a license, register with the State, or comply with requirements not applicable to unlicensed arrangements, unless otherwise required by law.

Section 2 – Appropriation and Implementation

Allocates $30,000 in nonrecurring General Fund money for FY 2025-2026 to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) to:
1. Update public-facing materials (website, printed guides, licensing portal) to reflect the new FFN definition and clarify legal status and distinctions from licensed facilities.
2. Revise internal guidance, policy manuals, and staff training to incorporate the new definition.
3. Update data systems to track license-exempt FFN providers as a distinct category, including:
- Number of providers accessing state or federal programs
- Number of children served
- Relevant demographic/geographic data (as voluntarily reported or available)

Section 3 – Exemptions Retained

Affirms that existing exemptions from licensing under G.S. 110-86(2) remain intact (e.g., care by relatives and cooperative arrangements). The new FFN definition is to be construed consistently with those exemptions.

Section 4 – Effective Date

The act becomes effective upon becoming law.

Who Would Be Affected

  • License-exempt FFN caregivers (and their families/households) who provide care to non-related children in informal settings.
  • DHHS/DCDEE, which would implement the definition, update materials, guidance, and data-tracking capabilities.
  • The broader landscape of parents and families using FFN care, who would gain clearer statutory recognition and potential access to future supports or programs.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill includes a modest, one-time appropriation ($30,000) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support implementation.
  • It envisions interim steps: updating materials, policy guidance, and data systems concurrently with the statutory definition.
  • There is no new licensing requirement imposed on FFN providers; the change is definitional and administrative, with a focus on recognition and data.

Notes

  • The bill retains existing licensing exemptions for relatives and cooperative arrangements and ensures the new FFN definition is consistent with those protections.
  • Primary sponsors: Senators Chaudhuri and Burgin; filed April 30, 2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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