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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- State regulators have responded to complaints from day-care providers by proposing scaled-back enforcement of the health and safety rules governing them.
Under the plan prescribed by the Health Department, the agency will stop investigating anonymous complaints and discontinue unannounced "spot" inspections.
Many of the rule changes are in place now. The most sweeping changes will take effect within 30 to 60 days, assuming there is no opposition.
Commercial day-care owners had complained that the rules were expensive and arbitrarily enforced. They say many providers had no choice but to fold or go underground, where regulation could be even more difficult.
However, a low-income family advocate says the rules are meant to protect kids -- and revoking them puts children at risk.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
