OKLAHOMA CITY -- Changes may be coming for Oklahoma home daycares. Representative Mike Shelton is requesting the legislature do a study. He wants to know what the affects would be on home daycares if they were forced to carry liability insurance.
Rep. Mike Shelton, a Democrat from Oklahoma City, says, "It's my belief that insurance is just something that businesses should have, especially when they are taking care of our children."
Most daycare centers are already required to carry liability insurance, but some home daycares in Oklahoma are exempt.
Shelton worries families will end up paying more than they can handle for medical expenses if there is an accident while the child is in someone else's care.
He says, "I don't think it's fair for that family to have to bear the burden all by themselves of having to pay medical bills."
He expects the cost to make this happen would be about $500 per year for a facility.
It's a cost he believes would be well worth it, though some say small home daycares just can't afford that.
He says, "I understand that the members want to protect constituents that have small daycare. I understand that. But ultimately it comes down to the protection of families as well as those children, as well as the business owner."
This is not the first time Rep. Shelton has brought up the topic.
In 2008 he authored a bill bringing up similar issues.
He says a new law would fill in any gaps that were left back then.
