A bill to add regulations for child care centers that are exempt from state licensing because of a church affiliation passed the Alabama House of Representatives this afternoon.

The House passed the bill 86-5 after a long debate, mostly about an amendment that was eventually adopted in a close vote. The bill moves to the Senate.

Advocates who say tighter measures are needed for child safety have faced opposition from some concerned about state involvement in church programs.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources licenses, inspects and sets minimum standards for child care centers. The minimum standards are extensive and include child-to-staff ratios, staff training and education, building space, bathroom facilities and outdoor area, meals, transportation rules and many other areas.

But about half the almost 2,000 centers in the state are exempt from licensing because of a church affiliation.

The bill by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, is a compromise that maintains the license exemption for church-affiliated centers that do not receive any government funding but requires them to report additional information to DHR.

The House passed a bill by Warren last year that required DHR to do annual inspections of license-exempt centers, but that is not part of her current bill. The bill died in the Senate last year.

The most substantive changes in this year's bill would apply to church-affiliated centers that receive state or federal funds or operate for profit. Those centers would have to be licensed by DHR and subject to minimum standards and inspections.

Although Warren had to make compromises to get the bill passed, she said it will be a significant step forward if it passes the Senate.

"I think it has gotten the attention of the ones who we're trying to get the attention of," Warren said. "The ones who are out there as exempt day cares who are not really bona fide religious day cares; they're more for the profit part. The word is out now. There's no doubt about it. They are looking at you. You're going to have to change and that's a major accomplishment. They know that there's going to be a change in day cares in the state of Alabama."

A 5-year-old Mobile boy died last year after being left in a van by a driver for an unlicensed child care center.

Although Warren's bill passed by an overwhelming vote, there was contentious debate and a close vote on an amendment by Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla.

Federal subsidies help support child care payments for some children from low-income families. Warren's bill said that church-affiliated child care centers that enroll children who receive subsidies would have to be licensed.

Farley's amendment deleted that language. Farley said he did not want church-affiliated child care centers to be penalized for enrolling low-income children or foster children.

Warren pointed out that DHR does not allow foster children to enroll in unlicensed child care centers.

Some lawmakers questioned the motives behind Farley's amendment, saying efforts to reach a compromise on the bill have been in the works for weeks.

Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said Warren had "worked her fingers to the bone to compromise with everybody."

Farley said he supported the bill and was not trying to kill it. He said the concerns that led to his amendment were brought to his attention today.

Warren asked the House to table the Farley amendment, but that motion failed by a vote of 31-35. The House then adopted the Farley amendment by a vote of 50-37.

Warren said she does not believe the amendment hurts the bill.

Aside from the state law, federal regulations also apply to centers that accept children who receive subsidies. Federal regulations do not require them to be licensed but do require them to have health and safety inspections.

Warren said she believes the publicity generated by the efforts to tighten regulations on child care centers has raised public awareness about safety.

"I think this has been an education for the parents as they choose day cares," Warren said. "Now they will look at them more carefully."

Under current law, child care centers can be exempt from DHR licensing if the church they are affiliated with notifies DHR that they are part of a church ministry or religious nonprofit elementary school. They must file notice with fire and health departments and certify to DHR that the church maintains fire and health inspection records, immunization verifications for children and medical history forms for staff and children. They must have parents sign an affidavit saying they know that the center is exempt from state licensing.

Warren's bill would add new requirements for license-exempt centers.

Annually, they would have to send DHR fire and health inspection records, employees names and criminal background check information, and proof of property, casualty and liability insurance.

They would have to post a notice in a public area of the center that they are not licensed or inspected by DHR.

The bill provides that DHR has the authority to inspect license-exempt centers if there is cause to believe child safety is at risk or if the center does not provide the required records.

Warren's bill makes it mandatory for license-exempt child care centers to conduct criminal history background checks on employees.

Current law says that centers can do that voluntarily and if they don't, the employees or prospective employees are responsible for the background checks. According to DHR, however, there is no way to verify those have been done.