SC lawmaker pushes for mandatory surveillance cameras in day care facilities

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Lawmakers in Columbia South Carolina continue to argue over issues that impact everything from our roads to our children, but one Upstate lawmaker is pushing to put children’s safety first.

State Senator Karl Allen from Greenville introduced a bill a year ago that would place cameras in childcare facilities. However, that bill has been stuck in a Senate Committee.

Senator Allen created a bill amending a law created in the 1970s regarding day care and after-school facilities in response to calls he received from his constituents.

The amendment states that all public centers must have working video cameras on the perimeter of the building to record what happens around the center while children are there.

“If they were hit on the playground, if they were hit in the parking lot, if they were injured getting out of the car, and a camera was there, then obviously, one would think the camera would have captured the facts and circumstances that led to the injury,” Sen. Allen said.

Allen said the initial intent was to keep kidnappings from happening, but the bill extends to overall safety, especially after claims in his district that a three-year-old was slapped while at day care.

The three-year-old claimed he had been slapped by a teacher on the playground at City Kids Child Development Center in Greenville earlier this month.

A week later, police closed the investigation saying the claims were unfounded, and they didn’t have enough probable cause to make an arrest.

Police based their investigation on statements because cameras at City Kids were inoperable, but Sen. Allen said a camera could have made the difference.

“In the case that you talk about, that tells me if we could solve that, and a camera could have, then there’s no reason to question the safety of the day care, the kid, and it gives the parent a sense of comfort.”

The director of City Kids Day Care said she did not have a comment to make about the cameras not working or the case.

Sen. Allen said if the law is passed he plans to hold the facilities accountable by making working cameras a condition of a day care’s license.

Lawmakers have until May to pass this law, or it will have to be re-introduced in the next legislative session.

Lawmakers in Columbia continue to argue over issues that impact everything from our roads to our children, but one Upstate lawmaker is pushing to put children’s safety first.

State Senator Karl Allen from Greenville introduced a bill a year ago that would place cameras in childcare facilities. However, that bill has been stuck in a Senate Committee.

Senator Allen created a bill amending a law created in the 1970s regarding day care and after school facilities in response to calls he received from his constituents.

The amendment states that all public centers must have working video cameras on the perimeter of the building to record what happens around the center while children are there.

“If they were hit on the playground, if they were hit in the parking lot, if they were injured getting out of the car, and a camera was there, then obviously, one would think the camera would have captured the facts and circumstances that led to the injury,” Sen. Allen said.

Allen said the initial intent was to keep kidnappings from happening, but the bill extends to overall safety, especially after claims in his district that a three-year-old was slapped while at day care.

The three-year-old claimed he had been slapped by a teacher on the playground at City Kids Child Development Center in Greenville earlier this month.

A week later, police closed the investigation saying the claims were unfounded, and they didn’t have enough probable cause to make an arrest.

Police based their investigation on statements because cameras at City Kids were inoperable, but Sen. Allen said a camera could have made the difference.

“In the case that you talk about, that tells me if we could solve that, and a camera could have, then there’s no reason to question the safety of the day care, the kid, and it gives the parent a sense of comfort.”

The director of City Kids Day Care said she did not have a comment to make about the cameras not working or the case.

Sen. Allen said if the law is passed he plans to hold the facilities accountable by making working cameras a condition of a day care’s license.

Lawmakers have until May to pass this law, or it will have to be re-introduced in the next legislative session.

Lawmakers in Columbia continue to argue over issues that impact everything from our roads to our children, but one Upstate lawmaker is pushing to put children’s safety first.

State Senator Karl Allen from Greenville introduced a bill a year ago that would place cameras in childcare facilities. However, that bill has been stuck in a Senate Committee.

Senator Allen created a bill amending a law created in the 1970s regarding day care and after school facilities in response to calls he received from his constituents.

The amendment states that all public centers must have working video cameras on the perimeter of the building to record what happens around the center while children are there.

“If they were hit on the playground, if they were hit in the parking lot, if they were injured getting out of the car, and a camera was there, then obviously, one would think the camera would have captured the facts and circumstances that led to the injury,” Sen. Allen said.

Allen said the initial intent was to keep kidnappings from happening, but the bill extends to overall safety, especially after claims in his district that a three-year-old was slapped while at day care.

The three-year-old claimed he had been slapped by a teacher on the playground at City Kids Child Development Center in Greenville earlier this month.

A week later, police closed the investigation saying the claims were unfounded, and they didn’t have enough probable cause to make an arrest.

Police based their investigation on statements because cameras at City Kids were inoperable, but Sen. Allen said a camera could have made the difference.

“In the case that you talk about, that tells me if we could solve that, and a camera could have, then there’s no reason to question the safety of the day care, the kid, and it gives the parent a sense of comfort.”

The director of City Kids Day Care said she did not have a comment to make about the cameras not working or the case.

Sen. Allen said if the law is passed he plans to hold the facilities accountable by making working cameras a condition of a day care’s license.

Lawmakers have until May to pass this law, or it will have to be re-introduced in the next legislative session.