State Representative Martin McLaughlin presented House Bill 2190 to the Illinois House of Representatives’ Child Care and Early Childhood Education Committee on March 20, advocating for new safety requirements in daycare centers.
The proposed legislation, known as Callum’s Law, would require that at least two adults certified in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver be present in any facility caring for more than twelve children. The bill aims to improve emergency preparedness and child safety standards in daycare settings.
McLaughlin was joined by Felicia Walters, whose 23-month-old son died after being found unresponsive at a daycare center. Walters said, “We would never again see our son’s eyes open, hear his laugh, or hold him without cords and wires. The love of our lives was taken from us in an instant. Not everyone at Callum’s daycare was CPR-certified and fully equipped to care for children, and precious time was wasted. We are fighting to make this change so that no other parent has to endure the heartbreak we live with every day.”
McLaughlin is a Republican who was elected to the Illinois State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 52nd House District, replacing previous state representative David McSweeney, according to Ballotpedia.
The bill will now move forward through the legislative process as lawmakers consider its potential impact on child care providers and families.
