Request for Written Comments:
Proposed changes to the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers that Provide Less than 24-hour Care. These proposed changes will add rules regulating Outdoor Nature-Based Preschools (ONB) and update small child care center rules to allow for the care of infants and toddlers.
The Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and Administration (DELLA) held seven (7) Community Rule Review Committee meetings on 1/15/25, 2/6/25, 2/20/25, 3/5/25, 3/19/25, 4/2/25, and 4/9/25 to build on the previous nine months of stakeholder engagement conducted in 2022-2023, which created draft ONB part-day and hybrid rules. During the seven Community Rule Review Committee meetings, DELLA worked with interested individuals on updating the draft package to incorporate the legislation from SB 24-078 currently in statute, which allows for full-day outdoor nature-based programming.
In addition to the proposed changes, including ONB regulations and expanding the small center rules, the proposed revisions also incorporate technical cleanup of the center rules.
The Department recently made changes to the Land Use Agreement section of the draft rules, in addition to changes based on the recent open public comment period that closed on July 14, 2025. Please review the red-lined version of the rules below to see the recent revisions and additions to the proposed rule packet.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Documents for Review:
Please review the following draft documents:
How to Submit Your Comments:
Please use the link to the online form to provide public comment:
Please ensure your comments are submitted by August 4, 2025, at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.
NEXT STEPS
CDEC will review and consider all public feedback received and will incorporate the recommendations into the draft Children’s Center/ONB rules, as able. The draft rules are expected to be reviewed by the Rules Advisory Council (RAC) on September 4, 2025, and considered for permanent adoption on December 31, 2025.
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
All rulemaking material received and collected, including written comments, recordings of previously held stakeholder meetings, and revised versions of the draft Childcare Center/ONB rules will be publicly accessible and stored in the Center Rules Folder https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1EKHMLA6GVW55uGGP5tRtSuPIgFl2ZqMF
Please review the CDEC Rule Tracker, located on the Rulemaking and Rules Advisory Council's (RAC) webpage, for more detailed information regarding the rulemaking timeline for these rules.
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