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SB 1012

Day Care - As introduced, treats nieces and nephews of the whole or half-blood of a primary caregiver as being related to the caregiver for purposes of present laws governing child care agencies. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 3, Part 5.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Charlane Oliver

Tennessee bill expands child care regulations to treat nieces and nephews as "related" caregivers, allowing family-based providers looser licensing rules and potentially increasing affordable care options while reducing regulatory oversight.

Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
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Bill Summary · SB 1012

Legislative bill overview

SB 1012 expands Tennessee's definition of "related" caregivers in child care regulations to include nieces and nephews (both full and half-blood relatives) of primary caregivers. This allows family members in these relationships to operate child care services under less restrictive regulations that currently apply only to immediate family members.

Why is this important

Child care regulations significantly impact operational costs, licensing requirements, and oversight standards. By expanding who qualifies as "related care," the bill could increase affordable child care options for families while potentially reducing regulatory burden on family-based providers. However, it also affects state oversight of child safety standards in these settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory oversight trade-off: Relaxed regulations for more family relationships may reduce state inspection frequency or training requirements, raising questions about whether child safety monitoring remains adequate
  • Definition consistency: The inclusion of half-blood relatives creates potential ambiguity about how distant relationships are measured and whether other extended family should be included
  • Economic impact on licensed providers: Increased competition from less-regulated family care options could affect licensed child care businesses' viability and staff employment

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

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