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Mo. House, Senate pass versions of day care law

Missouri State Capitol
KBIA
Missouri State Capitol

Missouri lawmakers want to bar anyone accused in the death or abuse of a child from running a day care center while the criminal charges are pending.

The House and Senate both passed measures Thursday establishing "Sam Pratt's Law." The name comes from a 2009 case in which a young boy died at an illegal day care center in the town of Pilot Knob. The owner continued operating the business even after she was charged in the boy's death.

The proposals would let a judge order a day care provider who's charged in the abuse, neglect or death of a child to suspend operations as a condition of release. Each of the day care bills will now go to the opposite chamber.

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