Pausing the Fire Marshal’s Unjustified Class Size Limitation

Written by: Melanee Cottrill, Executive Director, Head Start California

We did it! Our request to pause the State Fire Marshal’s new class size limit of five has been included in a budget trailer bill. The bill was passed by the legislature and we expect the Governor to sign it in September. Thank you to everyone who made this possible by signing letters, completing our survey, and making licensing aware of your challenges.

Once signed, the bill will require the Fire Marshal to enforce the building code as it existed in 2022, before the limit of five children ages 0 – 36 months was enacted. This pause will be in effect through 2027. For more background on this requirement and how this pause developed, see my initial article and early August update.

Now, our priority is obtaining clarification for those programs who have encountered this challenge and ensuring local fire marshals are aware of this pause. We are also focused on ensuring the field has a voice as the Fire Marshal and CDSS work to craft a feasible permanent regulation.