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You Can Now Babysit Without A License
(2009-11-24)
Under the capitol dome (Steve Carmody, Michigan Radio)
(MPRN) - Babysitters and people watching their friends' kids no longer have to worry about getting a state daycare license. Governor Granholm has signed a law that specifies babysitting is exempt from the licensing requirement.

Lawmakers, including Representative Mike Huckleberry, called for the law to be changed after a Middleville mother was forced to stop watching her neighbors' kids before they got on a school bus.

"Unfortunately, we had a neighbor turn in a neighbor," Huckleberry said. "The Department of Human Services had no choice but to follow up on the complaint, doing their job or they would have been negligent. Many, however, viewed it, as I did, hey what's the problem here? A neighbor taking care of a neighbor."


The case drew national attention.

Huckleberry says the new law allows people to watch children for an hour or two without having to get a daycare license.

© Copyright 2012, MPRN