Bill, introduced by Cong. John Barrow, requires that day care centers inform parents on their liability insurance status.

Washington, DC - The House of Representatives voted Monday, October 29, 2007, to enact the Anthony DeJuan Boatwright Act (H.R. 1473), introduced by 12^th District Congressman John Barrow (D-Ga.).  The legislation recommends that day care providers carry liability insurance, and requires day care providers to provide parents with written notice about their insurance status.

"If this law had been in effect when Jackie Boatwright enrolled her son in day care, a tragedy would have been prevented," said Congressman Barrow.  "For many parents, the most important decision they make on any given day is who to leave their children with when they go to work.  Parents have a right to know whether their day care center can accept the financial responsibility that goes along with the moral responsibility to take care of the kids entrusted to their care.  This bill will give them that information."

Anthony DeJuan Boatwright was 14 months old when he fell headfirst into an unattended bucket of mop water at a state licensed family day care center, and he sustained massive and permanent brain damage.  Six years later, he continues to struggle.  The center where Juan was kept wasn't insured, and there was no law in Georgia that required them to inform their parents that they had no insurance.

After the accident, Jackie Boatwright led the courageous and dedicated 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.

"Jackie Boatwright has done everything she can to take this tragedy and turn it to good.  The State of Georgia has lead the way, and now it's time for the federal government to follow through, so that the parents of millions of kids all over the country will get the same information that every parent in Georgia is entitled to get," Barrow said.

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Contact: Jane Brodsky, (202) 225-2823

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