About half of Alabama’s day care centers are based at churches and other religious institutions. And under current law, they are exempt from state licensing requirements. On Thursday, state lawmakers are set to consider the Child Care Safety Act, a bill that would abolish that exemption. Rep. Pebblin Warren of Tuskegee sponsored the bill, which would affect more than 900 Alabama day care centers.
WBHM’s Gigi Douban talked with Reveal reporter Amy Julia Harris, who investigated incidents of abuse and neglect at Alabama’s religious child care centers. Harris talks about the standards religious daycare centers aren’t subject to, and Alabama’s sweeping lack of oversight.