Anchorage moves to strip child care physicals, nutrition rules, CPR ratios

The Anchorage Assembly is weighing an ordinance that would repeal several local child care requirements, including mandatory annual physicals for enrolled children, municipal nutrition rules, outdated First Aid/CPR ratio language, and a section governing centers that serve sick children. The changes would take effect immediately upon passage.

AO 2026-69, prepared by the Anchorage Health Department at the request of Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, repeals four sections of Anchorage Municipal Code Chapter 16.55 and amends three others. The ordinance is intended to support existing child care facilities and future ones.

The Health Department says the repealed provisions are outdated, duplicative of state law, or financially burdensome. On physicals, the department said the requirement has not proven effective: "Physical examinations have not proven effective in determining day-to-day wellness for attendance." On the CPR ratio language, the department said: "This amendment also removes obsolete First Aid/CPR ratio language because all caregivers are now required to be First Aid/CPR certified." On nutrition, the department said: "Municipal nutrition rules include specific meal and snack content requirements and restrictions on sugary foods that duplicate and may conflict with broader, more flexible state standards. Adopting 7 AAC 57.560 already ensures consistency and incorporates applicable federal nutrition requirements in child care."

Beyond those four repeals, the ordinance also amends existing sections to remove the requirement that an administrator reside in a licensed child care home, reduce additional requirements for adolescent caregivers, and repeal the rule that 75 percent of annual training be completed in person. The administration memorandum notes the ordinance has no private-sector economic effects and that local government effects are under $30,000, so no economic summary was required.

The Health Department described the overall goal as responding to an ongoing shortage of available child care. The changes are intended to reduce regulatory barriers for existing providers and prospective applicants while maintaining health and safety standards, the department said, and to support providers in opening and sustaining operations.

This is the second set of code changes to Chapter 16.55 in under a year. The Assembly approved AO 2025-70 on July 15, 2025, making the first set of changes to the same chapter. The Assembly has not yet voted on the current measure.