1. A. Any person with a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree shall be considered as having met the educational requirements for a director of a full-time child care center required by the Department of Human Services. Nothing in this section shall be construed as to affect annual continuing education requirements. The director of a child care center may also qualify as a master teacher for children of all ages.
2. B. Any person replacing a master teacher at a child care center shall be granted a one-year probationary period to fulfill the educational qualifications required by the Department for a master teacher. The Department may extend the probationary period an additional year as long as the person is actively pursuing that goal.
3. C. Not later than the effective date of this act, the Director of the Department of Human Services shall establish master teacher ratios for two-, three-, four-, and five-star child care facilities that are the most permissive ratios possible without harming the safety of children or the quality of care provided, as determined by the Director.
4. D. Licensed child care facilities opened or expanded before November 1, 2016, shall have thirty-five (35) square feet of floor area per infant in rooms occupied only by infants. New construction and existing space not previously licensed for child care after November 1, 2016, shall have forty (40) square feet of floor area per infant in rooms occupied only by infants.

Laws 2016, SB 1554, c. 382, § 1; Amended by Laws 2018, HB 2692. c. 76, § 1, eff. November 1, 2018 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2026, HB 4298, c. 338, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026 (superseded document available).