A number of county child-care providers have quietly voiced concern that state licensing agents have become intimidating and hostile in the way they enforce their practices.

A meeting will be held tonight with care providers and representatives of Community Care Licensing of Sacramento to address concerns.

The public meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the upstairs conference room at Sierra Nevada Children's Services, 256 Buena Vista St. in Grass Valley, near the Bodyworks Day Spa on South Auburn Street

"There have been issues of overly zealous enforcement and misuse of power by licensing," said Elizabeth MacKenzie, Nevada County Child Care Ombudsperson. A number of county agencies are working together to address the concern that MacKenzie said is threatening the closure of numerous facilities.

Charles Boatman, regional manager of the River City regional office of Community Care Licensing, a division of the California Department of Social Services, will attend, along with several lawyers representing providers.

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To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail laurab@theunion.com or call 477-4231.