DENVER - Talk about red tape: Last year, Colorado’s Department of Human Services proposed regulating child care businesses down to the number of crayons per box and the color of dolls children can play with.
Also included: How many books child care centers should have, limits on computer and TV time, and bans on “googly eyes’’ and cotton balls, considered potential choking hazards.
Republicans in the Legislature say it highlights out-of-control government - and they introduced a bill yesterday limiting how far the state can go when it comes to regulating child care.
The state says it is backing off some of the more controversial proposals but is still in the process of drafting dozens of pages of new rules for more than 1,300 licensed child care centers and more than 800 licensed preschools.
“We continue to support the Department of Human Services as it works through a public process on the proposed regulations,’’ the office of Governor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Some child care providers say they worry excessive rules will put them out of business. And Lundberg, who is sponsoring the legislation, said he wants to ensure that the state only regulates health and safety matters.
Department spokeswoman Liz McDonough said new rules are needed because child care has evolved and is not just about putting children in front of the television for eight hours....
What's wrong with watching television?
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"Denver tries to fix mistaken-ID arrests" January 23, 2012
DENVER - Denver officials, facing criticism for hundreds of mistaken-identity arrests, say they plan to tighten procedures to make sure they have the right suspect before a person is booked....
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