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An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 4298 By: Schreiber, Pae, and Stewart
of the House
and
Rosino and Reinhardt of the
Senate
An Act relating to child care; amending 10 O.S. 2021,
Section 405.4, which relates to master teachers;
directing establishment of certain master teacher
ratios; authorizing child care facilities to charge
certain fees subject to specified conditions;
requiring the Department of Human Services to seek
certain federal approval; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
SUBJECT: Child care
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 10 O.S. 2021, Section 405.4, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 405.4. 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.
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
ENR. H. B. NO. 4298 Page 2
additional year as long as the person is actively pursuing that
goal.
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.
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.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 410.2 of Title 10, unless there
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. Subject to federal approval as described in subsection B of
this section, a licensed child care facility that participates in
the child care subsidy program may charge a family receiving subsidy
assistance an additional differential fee above the subsidy
reimbursement rate established by the Department of Human Services,
provided the total amount paid by the family for the required
copayment and the additional differential fee does not exceed ten
percent (10%) of household income. The Department shall not be
responsible for payment of any amount charged above the applicable
subsidy reimbursement rate.
B. The Department shall seek any approval necessary from the
federal Administration for Children and Families to implement the
provisions of this section.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. H. B. NO. 4298 Page 3
Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 4th day of May, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________