Mother of child who died in the care of an unlicensed day care provider testifies for day care legislation.

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2/ 8/2012: Newspaper Story - A bill in the Missouri House could crack down on unlicensed child care providers.

2/29/2012: Newspaper Story - Crackdown on unlicensed child care providers evokes emotional testimony at hearing

Intro:	The mother of a dead child testified in favor of a bill that cracks down on unlicensed day care providers.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The bill is named Nathan's Law, after Shelley Blecha's son who died in the care of an unlicensed child care provider.

Blecha said nothing could be done to the provider to penalize her for the death of her child.

Actuality:	BLECHA.WAV
Run Time:	00:15
Description: "All they could do was simply ask her never to watch children again. The prosecutor wouldn't do anything because the fine was two hundred dollars which, I paid more for the ambulance ride for my child."

The legislation would increase fines for providers who broke the law and would limit the amount of children a provider can look after at a given time.

The bill still awaits a vote in committee.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Danielle Carter.

Intro:	A House committee heard emotional witness testimony in favor of legislation that cracks down on unlicensed child care providers.
RunTime:	0:41
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The mother of a boy who died in the hands of an unlicensed child care provider cried as she testified in favor of the bill.

The bill sponsored by Democratic Representative Jill Schupp would limit the amount of children a provider could care for and increase fines for providers who broke the law.

Despite the previous failure of the legislation, Schupp says the bill is doing better this year.

Actuality:	SCHUPP2.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "People have heard about it more, and once people hear about this, they really tend to want to move forward because they know kid's lives are at stake."

No representatives spoke out against the bill but one representative asked for clarification on the specifics of the bill.

Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Danielle Carter.

Intro:	Legislation cracking down on unlicensed day care providers evoked emotional testimony in a House committee hearing.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: A House committee debated legislation that would increase fines for day care providers that break the law and limit the amount of children a provider can look after.

Shelley Blecha, the mother of a child who died in the care of an unlicensed day care provider, says there must be limits on this number.

Actuality:	BLECHA2.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "The statistics will show that you know, children need more than just a bottle crammed in their mouth and their diaper changed, you have to show them love, how are you going to do that if you can watch any amount of children possible?"

While no representatives spoke against the bill, one did ask for clarification on the language of the bill.

The bill still awaits a vote in committee.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Danielle Carter.