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Many of us use our decorated garages as additional play space for children in our care. We learned last year that licensing analysts were suddenly denying some providers the use of their garage space, so we looked into it. We checked with California State Licensing officials who, at that time, reported that no changes had been made to the current requirements on garages. We passed on the information to providers (see www.seiu99.org/?p=8995). If licensing confirmed the space was safe and if Large Family Child Care Homes had their garages approved by the State Fire Marshall, there should be no ban on the use of garage space.
That was then.
Now we are learning that these garage citations are still happening and that this supposed regulation against using our garages isn’t even on the books. There is no regulation in writing. So they are implementing a nonexistent rule. They’ve charged one provider a $200 fake citation. Other providers have closed down their garages. We know of one incident when a provider was threatened with a revocation of her license.
And none of this should be happening!
We are relentlessly pursuing more clarity.
SEIU Local 99 has contacted several law firms so that we can get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, if a Field Licensing Analyst has denied the use of your garage for child care activities, please make sure to take note of the Field Licensing Analyst’s name, date and time of their visit, and the reason the analyst gave on documentation regarding why the use of the garage was no longer allowed. Please send this information, or any questions or concerns about the use of your garage, to Nanette Rincon-Ksido at (213) 387-8393, ext. 304, or nrinconksido@seiu99.org.
