Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires child care centers and child care providers to test for lead in
drinking water and to provide potable water if lead contamination is found in order
to obtain, renew, or continue a child care center license or child care provider
certification.
Under current law, no person may for compensation provide care and
supervision for four or more children under the age of seven for less than 24 hours
a day unless that person obtains a license to operate a child care center from the
Department of Children and Families. To be licensed, current law requires a person
to meet the minimum requirements established by DCF. Under current law, a child
care center license is valid until revoked or suspended, but must be reviewed every
two years.
Current law also requires a person, other than a licensed child care center, to
be certified by DCF in order to be eligible to receive payment for providing child care
services for an individual who is determined eligible for a Wisconsin Shares child
care subsidy. To be certified, current law requires a child care provider to meet
minimum requirements established by DCF. Under current rules promulgated by
DCF, a child care provider certification is valid for two years unless revoked or
suspended, and must be renewed if the provider continues to comply with
certification standards.

This bill adds as a minimum requirement for both a child care center license
and a child care provider certification that an applicant for a new, renewal, or
continued license or certification (applicant) test drinking water for lead
contamination in a building used or to be used for child care within six months before
submitting the application. The bill defines lead contamination to be a concentration
of lead that is greater than 0.005 mg/L. Testing required under the bill must be done
in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources.
Under the bill, if a test shows lead contamination, the applicant must continue
testing as required by DNR, notify parents of children under its care and supervision
of the test results that show the contamination, provide safe drinking water to the
facility until the contamination is remediated, and provide proof in its application
that the applicant has complied with these requirements. At six-month intervals
following the issuance, renewal, or continuation of the license or certification, the
applicant must demonstrate to DCF that it remains in compliance with these
requirements until a test result shows no lead contamination.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB526,1 1Section 1. 48.654 of the statutes is created to read:
SB526,2,3 248.654 Testing for lead in drinking water. (1) In this section, “lead
3contamination” means a concentration of lead that is greater than 0.005 mg/L.
SB526,2,9 4(2) Each applicant for a new or continued license to operate a child care center
5under s. 48.65 or for a new or renewed certification under s. 48.651 shall, no sooner
6than 6 months prior to submitting the application, test the drinking water at the
7building to be used as a child care center to monitor for lead contamination. The
8applicant shall submit the test results to the appropriate licensing or certifying
9authority along with the application.
SB526,2,13 10(3) An applicant for a new or continued license under s. 48.65 or for a new or
11renewed certification under s. 48.651 shall ensure that the testing required under
12sub. (2) is done in accordance with rules promulgated by the department of natural
13resources.
SB526,3,4
1(4) If a test under sub. (2) shows that there is lead contamination in the
2drinking water at a building used or to be used for child care, the applicant for a new
3or continued license under s. 48.65 or for a new or renewed certification under s.
448.651 shall do all of the following:
SB526,3,65 (a) Continue testing the water in accordance with rules promulgated by the
6department of natural resources until the test results show no lead contamination.
SB526,3,107 (b) Until testing required under par. (a) shows no lead contamination, provide
8the facility with an adequate supply of potable water or, for an applicant for a new
9license under s. 48.65 or a new certification under s. 48.651, demonstrate a plan to
10provide the facility with an adequate supply of potable water if licensed or certified.
SB526,3,1211 (c) Provide each parent or guardian of a child under its care and supervision
12with written notification of the test results.
SB526,3,1313 (d) Post the test results on its Internet site, if one is maintained.
SB526,3,1514 (e) Submit along with its application proof that it is compliant with pars. (a)
15to (d).
SB526,3,2016 (f) At 6-month intervals following the date the license or certification is
17granted, continued, or renewed, demonstrate to the appropriate licensing or
18certifying authority continued compliance with pars. (a) to (d), including the most
19recent test results under par. (a). No further demonstration under this paragraph
20is required following submittal of a test result showing no lead contamination.
SB526,2 21Section 2. 48.67 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
SB526,3,2322 48.67 (6) That all child care centers licensed under s. 48.65 comply with s.
2348.654.
SB526,3 24Section 3. 49.155 (1d) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
SB526,4,3
149.155 (1d) (ar) In establishing the requirements for certification of a child care
2provider under par. (a), the department shall include a requirement that all child
3care providers certified under s. 48.651 comply with s. 48.654.
SB526,4 4Section 4 . 281.17 (11) of the statutes is created to read:
SB526,4,75 281.17 (11) The department shall promulgate rules establishing procedures for
6testing drinking water in buildings used for child care for lead contamination under
7s. 48.654.
SB526,5 8Section 5 . Initial applicability.
SB526,4,119 (1) This act first applies to an application for a new or continued license to
10operate a child care center under s. 48.65 or for a new or renewed certification under
11s. 48.651 submitted on the effective date of this subsection.
SB526,4,1212 (End)
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