# Division 6. Child Care Consumer Contract Protection

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 6. Child Care Consumer Contract Protection

### Sec. 5C-113. Child Care Consumer Contract Protection

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5C-113 (2026)

(a) Definitions. In this Section, the following words have the following meanings:

  (1) Child care provider means a person or entity licensed by the State of Maryland to provide childcare services, including before- and/or after-school care services, and who operates within Prince George's County.

  (2) Enrollment contract means any written agreement between a child care provider and a parent governing the provision of child care services in exchange for tuition or fees that includes a provision for penalties or other payment beyond that for services rendered in the event of early withdrawal or termination.

  (3) Hardship event means one of the following events affecting a parent of a child enrolled under the enrollment contract:

    (A) Involuntary employment loss;

    (B) Death; or

    (C) Deportation or removal from the United States pursuant to federal immigration proceedings.

  (4) Legal guardian means a person legally authorized to make decisions for a minor child, including a court-appointed guardian or other individual with lawful custodial responsibility.

  (5) Parent means the biological or adoptive parent or the legal guardian or custodian of a child.

  (6) Penalty means any early termination fee, forfeiture of prepaid tuition for future services not yet rendered, or liquidated damages beyond a reasonable notice period as provided in this Section.

(b) Financial Hardship Withdrawal Provision Required.

  (1) Each child care provider operating within Prince George's County shall include in any enrollment contract executed on or after the effective date of this Section a hardship withdrawal provision permitting termination of the contract by a parent of an enrolled child without penalty upon the occurrence of a hardship event.

  (2) The hardship withdrawal provision may only require:

    (A) Written notice not exceeding thirty (30) calendar days prior to withdrawal; and

    (B) Documentation establishing that a hardship event has occurred.

  (3) Acceptable documentation of a hardship event shall include, but is not limited to:

    (A) a termination notice from an employer or documentation of unemployment insurance eligibility;

    (B) a death certificate or comparable verification of death; or

    (C) official documentation demonstrating the outcome of deportation or removal proceedings.

(c) Upon establishment that a hardship event has occurred, a child care provider may do the following:

  (1) retain payment for services rendered prior to the effective date of withdrawal;

  (2) require payment for services provided during the notice period; provided that:

  (3) a child care provider may not impose any additional financial consequence, penalty, or fee solely due to termination from the exercise of a hardship withdrawal provision.

(d) Scope.

  (1) This Section applies only to private-pay enrollment contracts and does not alter or supersede:

    (A) any State of Maryland licensing requirement;

    (B) any contractual term required by the Maryland State Department of Education; or

    (C) any federal or state-funded child care subsidy agreement.

  (2) This Section shall be construed as a consumer protection measure regulating contract terms and not as a licensing or operational requirement. Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to impair obligations under contracts executed prior to the effective date of this Section.

(e) Enforcement. A violation of this Subtitle shall constitute an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice under the County's consumer protection laws.

  (1) The Prince George's County Office of Human Rights is authorized to:

    (A) investigate complaints of violations of this Section;

    (B) issue civil citations;

    (C) impose civil fines not exceeding $1,000 per violation; and

    (D) promulgate regulations to implement, clarify, and administer this Section, subject to approval by Resolution of the County Council.

  (2) The County Attorney is authorized to seek injunctive relief to enforce compliance.

(f) The Office of Human Rights shall conduct the necessary outreach to ensure that child care providers are aware of the requirements of this Section.