(Des Moines, IA) — Republicans in the Iowa House are debating legislation bill that would allow 16-year-olds to work in child care facilities on their own, without having an adult supervisor in the room. Wade Riedinger of the Iowa Alliance of YMCAs supports the bill and says 16 and 17 year olds already serve as lifeguards and youth sports officials. Janee Harvey with the Department of Human Services says Iowa would be the only state to let 16 and 17 year olds work, unsupervised, in child care centers or homes that provide child care, and it could jeopardize federal funding. Harvey says her agency is proposing that 15-year-olds be allowed to work at child care centers but keeping adult supervision for all minors. Key lawmakers working on the issue say they’re considering changes to the bill before it’s debated in a House committee.
