Directs the department of social services to establish an outdoor, nature-based child care pilot project

Authority to establish the pilot program and create licensing rules was transferred from the Office of Children and Family Services to the Department of Health.

New requirements mandate that the Department of Health convene an advisory group and provide specific reports to the Governor and Legislature.

The pilot project is now set to last four years, with a brief report due within two years and a full findings report due within three years.

Selection criteria for pilot sites were updated to explicitly aim for a mix of rural, urban, and suburban locations.

The definition of 'outdoor, nature-based child care' was reorganized and slightly refined to clarify the curriculum and time requirements.

Clarified the definition of outdoor, nature-based child care to specify a minimum of four hours or 50% of daily hours in an outdoor space, whichever is less.

Changed the requirement for the Office of Children and Family Services to waive indoor licensing rules from mandatory to permissive ('may waive').

Added specific priority criteria for the pilot program, favoring existing camp licenses and areas with limited child care availability.

Added procedural text indicating the bill was discharged from committee, amended, and recommitted.