On Friday, November 2nd, 12th District Congressman John Barrow held a press conference at the MCG Child Care Center in Augusta to discuss HR 1473, “Juan’s Law,” legislation introduced by Barrow that passed in the House of Representatives this week. He was joined by Ms. Jacqueline Boatwright, the courageous local mother whose advocacy and determination brought the issue of liability insurance coverage in day care centers to the national spotlight.

“Juan’s Law” recommends day care providers carry liability insurance, and requires licensed day care providers to notify parents about the insurance the center carries. The bill is named for Anthony DeJuan “Juan” Boatwright, who was 14 months old when he fell headfirst into an unattended bucket of mop water at a state licensed family day care center, sustaining massive and permanent brain damage. The center wasn’t insured, and there was no law in Georgia requiring it to inform parents that it had no insurance.

After the accident, Jackie Boatwright led the effort in Georgia to require uninsured day care providers to publicly disclose their insurance status. The Georgia General Assembly enacted a law requiring such disclosure in 2004. Congressman Barrow’s bill requires that all states adopt similar guidelines.