DENVER (AP) – Child care operators are counting on Gov. John Hickenlooper and state officials to cut back on some proposed new rules regulating their profession.

The new rules would set the number of crayons in a classroom and mandate the races of dolls for children.

Human Services Department director Reggie Bicha tells the Denver Post that the rules still face months of review before they can be presented to the State Board of Human Services for approval.

Child care center operator Sandy Bright says the state needs sensible rules that guarantee the health and safety of children, but operators don’t want the state making them a condition of licensing.

Hickenlooper has promised to cut down on red tape for businesses, but he has not commented on the proposed rules.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)