Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AMENDED
May 28, 2002
H. 4094
S. Printed 5/28/02--H.
Read the first time May 10, 2001.
TO AMEND SECTIONS 20-7-490, 20-7-510, 20-7-650, 20-7-670, 20-7-690, AND 20-7-9710, ALL AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 20-7-2275, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, ALL RELATING TO VARIOUS PROVISIONS IN THE CHILDREN'S CODE HAVING PROVISIONS RELATING TO CHILD DAYCARE, AND SUBARTICLE 11, ARTICLE 13, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20 RELATING TO THE LICENSURE AND REGULATION OF CHILD DAYCARE FACILITIES, ALL SO AS TO CHANGE THE TERMS "CHILD DAY CARE" OR "DAYCARE" TO "CHILDCARE".
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 20-7-490(5) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(5) 'A person responsible for a child's welfare' includes the child's parent, guardian, foster parent, an operator, employee, or caregiver, as defined by Section 20-7-2700, of a public or private residential home, institution, agency, or child day care childcare facility or an adult who has assumed the role or responsibility of a parent or guardian for the child, but who does not necessarily have legal custody of the child. A person whose only role is as a caregiver and whose contact is only incidental with a child, such as a babysitter or a person who has only incidental contact but may not be a caretaker, has not assumed the role or responsibility of a parent or guardian. An investigation pursuant to Section 20-7-650 must be initiated when the information contained in a report otherwise sufficient under this section does not establish whether the person has assumed the role or responsibility of a parent or guardian for the child."
SECTION 2. Section 20-7-510(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(A) A physician, nurse, dentist, optometrist, medical examiner or coroner or an employee of a county medical examiner's or coroner's office or any other medical, emergency medical services, mental health, or allied health professional or Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, school teacher, counselor, principal, assistant principal, social or public assistance worker, substance abuse treatment staff, or childcare worker in any daycare childcare center or foster care facility, police or law enforcement officer, undertaker, funeral home director or employee of a funeral home or persons responsible for processing of films or any judge shall report in accordance with this section when in the person's professional capacity the person has received information which gives the person reason to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect."
SECTION 3. Section 20-7-650(E) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(E) The department or law enforcement, or both, may interview the child alleged to have been abused or neglected and any other child in the household during the investigation. The interviews may be conducted on school premises, at day care childcare facilities, at the child's home or at other suitable locations and in the discretion of the department or law enforcement, or both, may be conducted outside the presence of the parents. To the extent reasonably possible, the needs and interests of the child must be accommodated in making arrangements for interviews, including time, place, method of obtaining the child's presence, and conduct of the interview. The department or law enforcement, or both, shall provide notification of the interview to the parents as soon as reasonably possible during the investigation if notice will not jeopardize the safety of the child or the course of the investigation. All state, law enforcement, and community agencies providing child welfare intervention into a child's life should coordinate their services to minimize the number of interviews of the child to reduce potential emotional trauma to the child."
SECTION 4. Section 20-7-670(D) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(D) The State Law Enforcement Division is authorized to receive and investigate reports of institutional abuse and neglect alleged to have occurred in any institution or foster home operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice and any institution or day care childcare facility operated by the Department of Social Services. The State Law Enforcement Division may promulgate regulations consistent with this authority to investigate these reports and take remedial action, if necessary."
SECTION 5. Section 20-7-690(B)(15) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(15) the director or chief executive officer of a child day care childcare facility, child placing agency, or child caring facility when the records concern the investigation of an incident of child abuse or neglect that allegedly was perpetrated by an employee or volunteer of the facility or agency against a child served by the facility or agency;"
SECTION 6. Section 20-7-690(K) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"(K) The department is authorized to maintain in its child day care childcare regulatory records information about investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect occurring in child day care childcare facilities.
(1) The department must enter child abuse or neglect investigation information in its regulatory record from the beginning of the investigation and must add updated information as it becomes available. Information in the regulatory records must include at least the date of the report, the nature of the alleged abuse or neglect, the outcome of the investigation, any corrective action required, and the outcome of the corrective action plan.
(2) The department's regulatory records must not contain the identity of the reporter or of the victim child.
(3) The identity of the perpetrator must not appear in the record unless the family court has confirmed the department's determination or a criminal prosecution has resulted in conviction of the perpetrator.
(4) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit the department's authority to use information from investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect occurring in child day care childcare facilities to pursue an action to enjoin operation of a facility as provided in Article 13, Subarticle 11.
(5) Record retention provisions applicable to the department's child protective services case records are not applicable to information contained in regulatory records concerning investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect occurring in child day care childcare facilities."
SECTION 7. Section 20-7-2275(E)(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 219 of 2000, is amended to read:
"(1) The department shall involve the kinship foster parents in development of the child's permanent plan pursuant to Section 20-7-766 and other plans for services to the child and the kinship foster home. The department shall give notice of proceedings and information to the kinship foster parent as provided for elsewhere in this article for other foster parents. If planning for the child includes the use of child day care childcare, the department shall pay for childcare arrangements, according to established criteria for payment of these services for foster children. If the permanent plan for the child involves requesting the court to grant custody or guardianship of the child to the kinship foster parent, the department must ensure that it has informed the kinship foster parent about adoption, including services and financial benefits that might be available."
SECTION 8. Subarticle 11, Article 13, Chapter 7, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 20-7-2700. For the purpose of this subarticle:
a. 'Child day care Childcare' means the care, supervision, or guidance of a child or children, unaccompanied by the parent, guardian, or custodian, on a regular basis, for periods of less than twenty-four hours per day, but more than four hours, in a place other than the child's or the children's own home or homes.
b. 'Child daycare Childcare facilities' means a facility which provides care, supervision, or guidance for a minor child who is not related by blood, marriage, or adoption to the owner or operator of the facility whether or not the facility is operated for profit and whether or not the facility makes a charge for services offered by it. This definition includes, but is not limited to, day nurseries, nursery schools, daycare childcare centers, group daycare childcare homes, and family daycare childcare homes. The term does not include:
(1) an educational facility, whether private or public, which operates solely for educational purposes in grade one or above;
(2) five-year-old kindergarten programs;
(3) kindergartens or nursery schools or other daytime programs, with or without stated educational purposes, operating no more than four hours a day and receiving children younger than lawful school age;
(4) facilities operated for more than four hours a day in connection with a shopping center or service or other similar facility, where the same children are cared for less than four hours a day and not on a regular basis as defined in this subarticle while parents or custodians of the children are occupied on the premises or are in the immediate vicinity and immediately available; however, these facilities must meet local fire and sanitation requirements and maintain documentation on these requirements on file at the facility available for public inspection;
(5) school vacation or school holiday day camps for children operating in distinct sessions running less than three weeks per session unless the day camp permits children to enroll in successive sessions so that their total attendance may exceed three weeks;
(6) summer resident camps for children;
(7) bible schools normally conducted during vacation periods;
(8) facilities for the mentally retarded provided for in Chapter 21, Title 44;
(9) facilities for the mentally ill as provided for in Chapter 17, Title 44;
(10) child daycare childcare centers and group daycare childcare homes owned and operated by a local church congregation or an established religious denomination or a religious college or university which does not receive state or federal financial assistance for daycare childcare services; however, these facilities must comply with the provisions of Sections 20-7-2900 through 20-7-2975 and that these facilities voluntarily may elect to become licensed according to the process as set forth in Sections 20-7-2700 through 20-7-2780 and Sections 20-7-2980 through 20-7-3090.
c. 'Public child day care childcare facility' means a facility as defined under item b of this section which was created and exists by act of the State, or a county, city or other political subdivision, whose operation remains under the tutelage and control of a governmental agency.
d. 'Private child day care childcare facility' means a facility as defined under item b of this section which is not a public child day care childcare facility, and which is able to be further classified as follows:
(1) 'Entrepreneurial child day care childcare facility' means a facility whose day care childcare operator may receive public assistance funds directly or indirectly but which is managed as a profit-making business enterprise and whose corporation or private ownership is liable for payment of federal and state income taxes on profits earned by the facility.
(2) 'Nonprofit child day care childcare facility' means a facility whose child day care childcare operator may receive public assistance funds directly or indirectly but which is operated under the tutelage and control of a nonprofit or eleemosynary corporation, foundation, association, or other organization whose ownership may or may not be liable for payment of federal and state income taxes on profits earned by the facility.
e. 'Child day care Childcare center' means any facility which regularly receives thirteen or more children for daycare childcare.
f. 'Group daycare childcare home' means a facility within a residence occupied by the operator which regularly provides child daycare childcare for at least seven but not more than twelve children, unattended by a parent or a legal guardian including those children living in the home and children received for daycare childcare who are related to the resident caregiver. However, an occupied residence in which child daycare childcare is provided only for a child or children related to the resident caregiver or only for the child or children of one unrelated family or only for a combination of these children is not a group daycare childcare home.
g. 'Family daycare childcare home' means a facility within a residence occupied by the operator in which child daycare childcare is regularly provided for no more than six children, unattended by a parent or legal guardian, including those children living in the home and children received for daycare childcare who are related to the resident caregiver. However, an occupied residence in which child daycare childcare is provided only for a child or children related to the resident caregiver or only for the child or children of one unrelated family or only for a combination of these children is not a family daycare childcare home.
h. 'Child day care Childcare operator' means the person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, or other public or private organization ultimately responsible for the overall operation of a child day care childcare facility.
i 'Caregiver' means any person whose duties include direct care, supervision, and guidance of children in a child day care childcare facility.
j. 'Minor child' means a person who has not reached the eighteenth birthday.
k. 'Department' means the State Department of Social Services, the agency designated to administer the regulation of child day care childcare facilities under this subarticle, with the advice of the State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities.
l. 'Committee' means the State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities, named under this subarticle to advise the department on regulatory matters related to child day care childcare facilities.
m. 'Director' means the administrative head of the department.
n. 'Regularly, or on a regular basis': these terms refer to the frequency with which child day care childcare services are available and provided at a facility in any one week; these terms mean the availability and provision of periods of day care on more than two days in such week.
o. 'Related' means any of the following relationships by marriage, blood, or adoption: parent, grandparent, brother, sister, stepparent, stepsister, stepbrother, uncle, aunt, cousin of the first degree.
p. 'Regular license' means a license issued by the department for two years to an operator of a private child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home or a family day care childcare home which elects to be licensed showing that the licensee is in compliance with the provisions of this subarticle and the regulations of the department at the time of issuance and authorizing the licensee to operate in accordance with the license, this subarticle, and the regulations of the department.
q. 'Provisional license' means a license issued by the department to an operator of a private child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home or a family day care childcare home which elects to be licensed authorizing the licensee to begin operations although the licensee temporarily is unable to comply with all of the requirements for a license.
r. 'Regular approval' means a written notice issued by the department for a two-year period to a department, agency or institution of the State, or a county, city, or other political subdivision, approving the operation of a public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home in accordance with the provisions of the notice, this subarticle, and the regulations of the department.
s. 'Provisional approval' means a written notice issued by the department to a department, agency, or institution of the State, or a county, city, or other political subdivision approving the commencement the operations of a public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home although the operator is temporarily unable to comply with all of the requirements for approval.
t. 'Registration' means the process whereby child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes owned and operated by a church or a publicly recognized religious educational or religious charitable institution are regulated under this subarticle and the process whereby all family day care childcare homes are regulated under this subarticle.
u. 'Declaratory order' means a written statement on the part of the department approving plans for construction or renovation insuring ensuring against the imposition of more stringent regulations at a later date.
v. 'Renewal' means in regard to child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes, to grant an extension of a regular license or regular approval for another two-year period provided an investigation of such facilities verifies that they are in compliance with the applicable regulations; in regard to family day care childcare homes, to place the name of the operator on the registration list for another year provided procedures indicated in this subarticle have been completed.
w. 'Revocation' means to void the regular license of a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home.
x. 'Deficiency correction notice' means a written statement on the part of the department notifying a child day care childcare facility which is not complying with any applicable regulations to correct the deficiencies stated in the notice within a reasonable time limit.
y. 'Complaint' means a written statement reporting unsatisfactory conditions in a child day care childcare facility.
z. 'Curriculum' means and includes design of courses, teaching philosophy, methods and activities.
aa. 'Summer resident camp for children' means a twenty-four-hour residential program offered during the summer that provides recreational activities for children.
bb. 'Summer day camp for children' means a program offered during the summer that provides recreational activities primarily during daytime hours throughout the period of the program and may include an occasional overnight activity under the supervision of the operator.
cc. 'Infant' means a child age twelve months or younger for the purposes of this chapter.
Section 20-7-2710 a. The intent of this subarticle is to define the regulatory duties of government necessary to safeguard children in care in places other than their own homes, insuring ensuring for them minimum levels of protection and supervision. Toward that end, it is the purpose of this subarticle to establish statewide minimum regulations for the care and protection of children in child day care childcare facilities, to insure ensure maintenance of these regulations and to approve administration and enforcement to regulate conditions in such facilities. It shall be is the policy of the State to insure ensure protection of children under care in child day care childcare facilities, and to encourage the improvement of child day care childcare programs.
b. It is the further intent of this subarticle that the freedom of religion of all citizens shall be is inviolate. Nothing in this subarticle shall give any governmental agency jurisdiction or authority to regulate, supervise, or in any way be involved in any Sunday school, Sabbath school, religious services or any nursery service or other program conducted during religious or church services primarily for the convenience of those attending such the services.
c. Nothing in this subarticle shall create authority for the Department of Social Services to influence or regulate the curriculum of child day care childcare facilities.
Section 20-7-2720. No person, corporation, partnership, voluntary association, or other organization may operate a private child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home unless licensed to do so by the department.
Section 20-7-2725. (A) No day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, family day care childcare home, or church or religious day care childcare center may employ a person or engage the services of a caregiver who is required to register under the sex offender registry act pursuant to Section 23-3-430 or who has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A), except that this prohibition does not apply to Section 56-5-2930, the Class F felony of driving under the influence pursuant to Section 56-5-2940(4) if the conviction occurred at least ten years prior to the application for employment and the following conditions are met:
(a) the person has not been convicted in this State or any other state of an alcohol or drug violation during the previous ten-year period;
(b) the person has not been convicted of and has no charges pending in this State or any other state for a violation of driving while his license is canceled, suspended, or revoked during the previous ten-year period; and
(c) the person has completed successfully an alcohol or drug assessment and treatment program provided by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services or an equivalent program designated by that agency.
A person who has been convicted of a first-offense violation of Section 56-5-2930 must not drive a motor vehicle or provide transportation while in the official course of his duties as an employee of a daycare childcare center, group daycare childcare home, family daycare childcare home, or church or religious daycare childcare center.
If the person subsequently is convicted of, receives a sentence upon a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeits bail posted for a violation of Section 56-5-2930 or for a violation of another law or ordinance of this State or any other state or of a municipality of this State or any other state that prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or narcotics, the person's employment must be terminated;
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(B) A person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (A) who applies for employment with, is employed by, or is a caregiver at a day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, family day care childcare home, or church or religious day care childcare center is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(C) Application forms for employment at child day care childcare centers, group day care childcare homes, family day care childcare homes, or church or religious day care childcare centers must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (A) who applies for employment with, is employed by, or seeks to provide caregiver services or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(D) To be employed by or to provide caregiver services at a day care childcare facility licensed, registered, or approved under this subarticle, a person first shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. A person may be provisionally employed or may provisionally provide caregiver services after the favorable completion of the State Law Enforcement Division fingerprint review and until such time as the Federal Bureau of Investigation review is completed if the person affirms in writing on a form provided by the department that he or she has not been convicted of any crime enumerated in this section. The results of the fingerprint reviews are valid and reviews are not required to be repeated as long as the person remains employed by or continues providing caregiver services in a day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, family day care childcare home, or church or religious day care childcare center; however, if a person is not employed or does not provide caregiver services for one year or longer, the fingerprint reviews must be repeated.
(E) Unless otherwise required by law, this section does not apply to volunteers in a day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, family day care childcare home, or church or religious day care childcare center. For purposes of this section, 'volunteer' means a person who:
(1) provides services without compensation relating to the operation of a day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, family day care childcare home, or church or religious day care childcare center; and
(2) is in the presence of an operator, employee, or caregiver when providing direct care to children.
'Volunteer' includes, but is not limited to, parents, grandparents, students, and student teachers.
(F) Unless otherwise required by law, this section applies to:
(1) an employee who provides care to the child or children without the direct personal supervision of a person licensed, registered, or approved under this subarticle; and
(2) any other employee at a facility licensed, registered, or approved under this subarticle who has direct access to a child outside the immediate presence of a person who has undergone the fingerprint review required under this subarticle.
Section 20-7-2730. (A) Application for license must be made on forms supplied by the department and in the manner it prescribes.
(B) Before issuing a license the department shall conduct an investigation of the applicant and the proposed plan of care for children and for operating a private child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home. If the results of the investigation verify that the provisions of this subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied, a license must be issued. The applicant shall cooperate with the investigation and related inspections by providing access to the physical plant, records, excluding financial records, and staff. Failure to comply with the regulations promulgated by the department within the time period specified in this subarticle, if adequate notification of deficiencies has been made, is a ground for denial of application. The investigation and inspections may involve consideration of any facts, conditions, or circumstances relevant to the operation of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home, including references and other information about the character and quality of the personnel.
(C) Each license must be conditioned by stating clearly the name and address of the licensee, the address of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home, and the number of children who may be served.
(D) Failure of the department, except as provided in Section 20-7-3070, to approve or deny an application within ninety days results in the granting of a provisional license.
(E) No license may be issued to an operator who has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(F) Application forms for licenses issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (E) who applies for a license as an operator is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(G) A person applying for a license as an operator under this section shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal.
(H) A person applying for a license as an operator under this section or seeking employment or seeking to provide caregiver services at a facility licensed under this section shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal unless the renewal coincides with employment of a new operator, employee, or caregiver.
Section 20-7-2735. (A) A caregiver who begins employment in a licensed or approved child day care childcare center in South Carolina after June 30, 1994, must have at least a high school diploma or General Educational Development Certificate (GED) and at least six months' experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child day care childcare facility. If a caregiver does not meet the experience requirements, the caregiver must be directly supervised for six months by a staff person with at least one year experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child day care childcare facility. Within six months of being employed, a caregiver must have six clock hours of training in child growth and development and early childhood education or shall continue to be under the direct supervision of a caregiver who has at least one year of experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child day care childcare facility.
(B) A caregiver who has two years' experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved facility and is employed as of July 1, 1994, in a licensed or approved child day care childcare center in South Carolina is exempt from the high school diploma and General Education Educational Development (GED) requirements of subsection (A).
Section 20-7-2740. (A) Regular licenses may be renewed upon application and approval. Notification of a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home regarding renewal is the responsibility of the department.
(B) Application for renewal must be made on forms supplied by the department in the manner it prescribes.
(C) Before renewing a license the department shall conduct an investigation of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home. If the results of the investigation verify that the provisions of this subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied, the license must be renewed. The licensee shall cooperate with the investigation and related inspections by providing access to the physical plant, records, and staff. Failure to comply with the regulations promulgated by the department within the time period specified in this subarticle, if adequate notification of deficiencies has been made, is a ground for revocation of the license. The investigation and inspections may involve consideration of any facts, conditions, or circumstances relevant to the operation of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home.
(D) No license may be renewed for any operator who has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(E) Application forms for license renewals issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (D) who applies for a license renewal as operator is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(F) A licensee seeking license renewal under this section, its employees, and its caregivers, who have not done so previously, on the first renewal after June 30, 1995, shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history.
(G) No facility may employ or engage the services of an employee or caregiver who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section.
Section 20-7-2750. Whenever the department finds upon inspection that a private child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home is not complying with any applicable licensing regulations, the department shall notify the operator to correct such these deficiencies.
a. Every correction notice shall must be in writing and shall must include a statement of the deficiencies found, the period within which the deficiencies must be corrected and the provision of the subarticle and regulations relied upon. The period shall must be reasonable and, except when the department finds an emergency dangerous to the health or safety of children, not less than thirty days from the receipt of such the notice.
b. Within two weeks of receipt of such the notice, the operator of the facility may file a written request with the department for administrative reconsideration of the notice or any portion thereof of the notice.
c. The department shall grant or deny a written request within seven days of filing and shall notify the operator of such the grant or denial.
d. In the event that the operator of the facility fails to correct deficiencies within the period prescribed, the department may revoke the license.
Section 20-7-2760. a. An applicant who has been denied a license by the department shall must be given prompt written notice by certified or registered mail. The notice shall indicate the reasons for the proposed action and shall inform the applicant of the right to appeal the decision to the director in writing within thirty days after the receipt of notice of denial. An appeal from the final decision of the director may be taken to an administrative law judge pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
b. A licensee whose application for renewal is denied or whose license is about to be revoked shall must be given written notice by certified or registered mail. The notice shall must contain the reasons for the proposed action and shall inform the licensee of the right to appeal the decision to the director or his designee in writing within thirty calendar days after the receipt of the notice. An appeal from the final decision of the director may be taken to an administrative law judge pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
c. At the hearing provided for in this section, the applicant or licensee may be represented by counsel and has the right to call, examine and cross-examine witnesses and to otherwise introduce evidence. Parents appearing at the hearing may also be represented by counsel. The hearing examiner is empowered to require the presence of witnesses and evidence by subpoena on behalf of the appellant or department. The final decision of the department shall must be in writing, shall must contain the department's findings of fact and rulings of law and shall must be mailed to the parties to the proceedings by certified or registered mail to their last known addresses as may be shown in the application, or otherwise. A full and complete record shall must be kept of all proceedings, and all testimony shall must be reported but need not be transcribed unless the department's decision is appealed, or a transcript is requested by an interested party. Upon an appeal, the department shall furnish to any appellant, free of charges, a certified copy of the transcript of all evidentiary proceedings before it. Other parties shall pay the cost of transcripts prepared at their request.
d. The decision of the department is final unless appealed by a party to an administrative law judge pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 20-7-2770. Every child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home shall maintain a register setting forth essential facts concerning each child enrolled under the age of eighteen years.
Section 20-7-2780. a. Each child daycare childcare center or group daycare childcare home shall maintain its current license displayed in a prominent place at all times and must state its license number in all advertisements of the child daycare childcare center or group daycare home.
b. No license shall may be transferred nor shall the location of any child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home or place of performance of service be changed without the written consent of the department. The department shall consent to such the change for a reasonable period of time when emergency conditions require it, so long as the new location or place of performance substantially conforms to state fire and health requirements.
c. Upon occurrence of death of a child on the premises of a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home in which such the child is enrolled or while under the constructive control of the holder of the license of such the facility, it shall be and hereby is the responsibility of the latter holder of the license to notify the department within forty-eight hours and follow up with a written report as soon as the stated cause of death is certified by the appropriate government official.
Section 20-7-2790. Every operator or potential operator of a public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home must apply to the department for an investigation and a statement of standard conformity or approval, except those facilities designated in Section 20-7-2700.
Section 20-7-2800. (A) Application for a statement of standard conformity or approval must be made on forms supplied by the department and in the manner it prescribes.
(B) Before issuing approval the department shall conduct an investigation of the applicant and the proposed plan of care for children and for operating a public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home. If the results of the investigation verify that the provisions of the subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied, approval must be issued. The applicant shall cooperate with the investigation and inspections by providing access to the physical plant, records, and staff. The investigation and related inspections may involve consideration of any facts, conditions, or circumstances relevant to the operation of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home, including references and other information about the character and quality of the personnel. If the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home fails to comply with the regulations promulgated by the department within the time period specified in this subarticle, if adequate notification regarding deficiencies has been given, the appropriate public officials of the state and local government must be notified.
(C) A person applying for approval under this section shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal.
(D) No approval may be granted under this section if the person applying for approval or the operator, an employee, or a caregiver of the facility has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(E) Application forms for a statement of standard conformity or approval issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (D) who applies for approval is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(F) Application forms for a statement of standard conformity or approval issued under this chapter by the department and application forms for employment at individual public child day care childcare centers or group day care childcare homes must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section who applies for a license as operator, applies for employment with, is employed by, seeks to provide caregiver services with, or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Section 20-7-2810. (A) Regular approvals may be renewed upon application and approval. Notification of a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home regarding renewal is the responsibility of the department.
(B) Application for renewal must be made on forms supplied by the department and in the manner it prescribes.
(C) Before renewing an approval the department shall conduct an investigation of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home. If the results of the investigation verify that the provisions of this subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied, the approval must be renewed. The operator shall cooperate with the investigation and related inspections by providing access to the physical plant, records, and staff. If the operator's statement of approval cannot be renewed, the appropriate public officials must be notified.
(D) A person applying for approval renewal under this section, a person who will operate the facility, and its employees and caregivers, who have not done so previously, on the first approval renewal after June 30, 1995, shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history.
No approval may be renewed under this section if the person applying for renewal, the operator of the facility, or an employee or a caregiver has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(E) Application forms for renewal of a statement of standard conformity or approval issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (D) who applies for approval renewal is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(F) No facility may employ or engage the services of an employee or a caregiver who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section.
(G) Application forms for renewal of a statement of standard conformity or approval issued under this chapter by the department for individual public child day care childcare centers or group day care childcare homes must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section who applies for a license as operator, applies for employment with, is employed by, seeks to provide caregiver services with, or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Section 20-7-2820. Whenever the department finds upon inspection that a public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home is not complying with any applicable regulations, the department may notify the operator to correct such the deficiencies.
a. Every correction notice shall must be in writing and shall include a statement of the deficiencies found, the period within which the deficiencies must be corrected and the provision of the subarticle and regulations relied upon. The period shall must be reasonable and, except when the department finds an emergency dangerous to the health or safety of children, not less than thirty days from the receipt of such the notice.
b. Within two weeks of receipt of such the notice, the operator of the public child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home may file a written request with the department for administrative reconsideration of the notice or any portion thereof of the notice.
c. The department shall grant or deny a written request within seven days of filing and shall notify the operator of the child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home of such the grant or denial.
d. In the event that the operator fails to correct any deficiency within the period prescribed for correction, the department shall notify the appropriate public officials.
Section 20-7-2830. a. An applicant or operator who has been denied approval or renewal of approval by the department shall must be given prompt written notice thereof of the denial, which shall include a statement of the reasons for the denial. The notice shall must also inform the applicant or operator that it may, within thirty days after the receipt of the notice of denial, appeal the denial by making a written request to the director or his designee for an opportunity to show cause why its application should not be denied.
b. Upon receiving a written petition, the director or his designee shall give the applicant or operator reasonable notice and an opportunity for a prompt, informal meeting with the director or his designee with respect to the action by the department, and an opportunity to submit written material. On the basis of the available evidence, including information obtained at the informal meeting and from the written material, the director or his designee shall decide whether the application shall must be granted for approval, provisional approval, or denied. The decision of the director or his designee shall must be in writing, shall must contain findings of fact and shall must be mailed to the parties to the proceedings by certified or registered mail. Notification of the decision shall must be sent to the Governor and appropriate officials of the state or local government.
Section 20-7-2840. (A) As used in this subarticle, 'family daycare childcare home' means a facility within a residence occupied by the operator in which child daycare childcare regularly is provided for no more than six children, unattended by a parent or legal guardian, including those children living in the home and the children received for daycare childcare who are related to the resident caregiver. However, an occupied residence in which child daycare childcare is provided only for a child or children related to the resident caregiver or only for the child or children of one unrelated family, or only for a combination of these children, is not a family daycare childcare home.
(B) An operator of a family day care childcare home shall register with the department within six months of June 13, 1977.
(C) A family day care childcare home which elects to participate in a federal program which requires licensing as a prerequisite to participation may elect to be licensed under the procedures in Section 20-7-2850. A family day care childcare home electing licensing shall demonstrate compliance with the suggested standards developed by the department under Section 20-7-2980 and shall comply with provisions of Sections 20-7-2730 and 20-7-2740 relating to criminal history conviction records checks upon original licensing and upon renewal. Operators and caregivers of licensed family day care childcare homes are held to the standards in Sections 20-7-2730 and 20-7-2740 regarding criminal convictions.
Section 20-7-2850. (A) Registration must be completed on forms supplied by the department and in the manner it prescribes.
(B) Before becoming a registered operator the applicant shall:
(1) sign a statement that he has read the suggested standards developed by the department under Section 20-7-2980;
(2) furnish the department with a signed statement by each consumer parent verifying that the operator has provided each consumer parent with a copy of the suggested standards for family day care childcare homes and the procedures for filing complaints;
(3) upon request, provide the department with any facts, conditions, or circumstances relevant to the operation of the family day care childcare home, including references and other information regarding the character of the family day care childcare home operator.
(C) A person applying to become a registered operator of a family day care childcare home under this section and a person fifteen years of age or older living in the family day care childcare home shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal.
(D) No applicant may be registered as an operator if the person, an employee, a caregiver, or a person fifteen years of age or older living in the family day care childcare home has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(E) Application forms for registration issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (D) who applies for registration as operator or a person who applies for registration as an operator who has a person fifteen years of age or older living in the family day care childcare home who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in subsection (D) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(F) Application forms for registration issued under this chapter by the department and application forms for employment at a family day care childcare home must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section who applies for a license as operator, applies for employment with, is employed by, seeks to provide caregiver services with, or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Section 20-7-2860. (A) A statement of registration must be issued when the family daycare childcare operator satisfactorily completes the procedures prescribed by this subarticle. The current statement must be displayed in a prominent place in the facility at all times and the registration number must be stated in all advertisements of the family daycare childcare home.
(B) Registration expires at the end of one year from the date of issuance of the statement of registration. Registration may be renewed according to the procedures developed by the department.
(C) A person applying for renewal of registration as an operator of a family day care childcare home registered under this chapter and a person employed or providing caregiver services at a family day care childcare home registered under this chapter, who has not done so previously, on the first renewal after June 30, 1996, shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history.
Application forms for registration renewal issued under this section must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in Section 20-7-2850(D) who applies for registration as an operator or a person who applies for registration as an operator who has a person fifteen years of age or older living in the home who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in Section 20-7-2850(D) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(D) Application forms for registration renewal issued under this chapter by the department for a family day care childcare home must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section who applies for a license as operator, applies for employment with, is employed by, seeks to provide caregiver services with, or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(E) The department may withdraw the statement of registration if one or more of the following apply:
(1) The health and safety of the children require withdrawal.
(2) The facility has enrolled children beyond the limits defined in this subarticle.
(3) The operator fails to comply with the registration procedures provided in this subarticle.
Section 20-7-2870. The department shall visit the facility when concerns are expressed by the community regarding the health and safety of the children, child abuse or enrollment beyond the limits set forth in this subarticle.
a. If the concern is in regard to the health and safety of the children, the department may call on other appropriate agencies (i.e., State Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of the State Fire Marshal) as necessary to conduct an inspection.
b. If the concern indicates that the child has been abused, the department shall carry out its responsibility as authorized under Article 7 of this chapter.
c. If the visits and inspections verify conditions detrimental to the health and safety of the children or overenrollment, the department shall carry out its responsibility as authorized by subsection C of Section 20-7-2860 and Section 20-7-3010.
Section 20-7-2880. (a) A registrant whose statement of registration has been withdrawn by the department shall must be given written notice by certified or registered mail. The notice shall must contain the reasons for the proposed action and shall must inform the registrant of the right to appeal the decision to the director or his designee in writing within thirty calendar days after the receipt of the notice. Upon receiving a written appeal the director or his designee shall give the registrant reasonable notice and an opportunity for a prompt hearing before the director or his designee. On the basis of the evidence adduced at the hearing, the director or his designee shall make the final decision of the department as to whether the statement of registration shall must be withdrawn. If no written appeal is made, the statement of registration shall must be withdrawn as of the termination of the thirty-day period.
(b) At the hearing provided for in this section, the registrant may be represented by counsel, and has the right to call, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to otherwise introduce evidence. Parents appearing at the hearing may also be represented by counsel. The director is empowered to require the presence of witnesses and evidence by subpoena on behalf of the appellant or department. The final decision of the department shall must be in writing, shall must contain the department's findings of fact and rulings of law and shall must be mailed to the parties to the proceedings by certified or registered mail. A full and complete record shall must be kept of all proceedings, and all testimony shall must be reported and need not be transcribed unless the decision is appealed, or a transcript is requested by an interested party. Upon an appeal, the department shall furnish to any appellate, free of charge, a certified copy of the transcript of all evidentiary proceedings before it. Other parties shall pay the cost of transcripts.
(c) The decision of the department is final unless appealed by a party pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 20-7-2890. The department shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified persons to assist a potential applicant, an applicant or registered operator in meeting and maintaining the suggested standards for family day care childcare homes.
Section 20-7-2900. (A) No church congregation or established religious denomination or religious college or university which does not receive state or federal financial assistance for daycare childcare services may operate a child daycare childcare center or group daycare childcare home unless it complies with the requirements for registration and inspection and the regulations for health and fire safety as set forth in Sections 20-7-2910 through 20-7-2975 and requirements applicable to private and public daycare childcare centers and group daycare childcare homes for floor space, child-staff ratios, and staff training. Application for registration must be made on forms supplied by the department and in the manner it prescribes. Registration expires two years from the date of issuance of the statement of registration. Registration may be renewed according to the procedures developed by the department.
(B) Before issuing a registration, the department shall conduct an investigation of the applicant. This investigation is limited to:
(1) the results of the criminal history review required by subsection (G);
(2) the requirements for registration and inspection and the regulations for health and fire safety provided for in Sections 20-7-2910 through 20-7-2975; and
(3) requirements applicable to private and public daycare childcare centers and group daycare childcare homes for floor space, child-staff ratios, and staff training.
(C) No license or registration may be issued to a church congregation, established religious denomination, or religious college or university if a person who provides service as an operator, caregiver, or employee at the child care childcare facility has been convicted of:
(1) a crime listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person;
(2) a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency;
(3) the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, contained in Section 16-17-490;
(4) the felonies classified in Section 16-1-10(A);
(5) the offenses enumerated in Section 16-1-10(D); or
(6) a criminal offense similar in nature to the crimes listed in this subsection committed in other jurisdictions or under federal law.
(D) Application forms for licensure or registration issued under this subarticle must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of a crime enumerated in this section who applies for a license or registration as operator is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(E) A person applying for a license or registration as an operator of a church or religious daycare childcare center shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal.
(F) Application forms for licensure or registration issued under this chapter by the department and application forms for employment at a facility operated by a church congregation, established religious denomination, or religious college or university must include, at the top of the form in large bold type, a statement indicating that a person who has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in this section who applies for a license as operator, applies for employment with, is employed by, seeks to provide caregiver services with, or is a caregiver at a facility is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(G) A person applying for a license or registration as an operator of a church or religious daycare childcare center or seeking employment or seeking to provide caregiver services at a church or religious daycare childcare center shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. The fingerprint reviews required by this subsection are not required upon each renewal unless the renewal coincides with employment of a new operator, employee, or caregiver.
(H) A person applying for renewal of a license or registration as an operator of a church or religious daycare childcare center licensed or registered under this chapter and a person employed or registered under this chapter, who has not done so previously, on the first renewal after June 30, 1996, shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history.
Section 20-7-2902. Notwithstanding the staff training requirements of Section 20-7-2900(A) and (B)(3), the department may not prescribe the curriculum for such staff training, other than curriculum addressing administration, child growth and development, and health and safety, for a church congregation, established religious denomination, or religious college or university, daycare childcare center or group daycare childcare home. Additionally, the department may not prescribe the content of curriculum activities for children provided by these daycare childcare centers or group daycare childcare homes.
Section 20-7-2905. For conducting a state criminal history review as required by this subarticle, the State Law Enforcement Division may not impose a fee greater than the fee imposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for conducting such a review.
Section 20-7-2910. The child daycare childcare operator shall submit a formal request for inspection of the child care childcare facility to the department. The department shall request the appropriate state health and fire safety agencies to conduct an inspection of the facility before renewal of the registration and more often if necessary to ensure compliance with health and fire safety regulations. The department shall register the daycare childcare facility upon notification from health and fire safety agencies that the daycare childcare facility is in compliance with these regulations and the requirements of Section 20-7-2900.
The applicable regulations must be the same health and fire safety regulations applied to other facilities regulated under this subarticle.
Section 20-7-2915. A statement of registration must be issued when the church or religious child daycare childcare operator or group daycare childcare home operator satisfactorily completes the procedures prescribed by this subarticle. An application for a statement of registration must include the name and address of the director, the address of the facility, and the number of children who may be served. Failure of the department to approve or deny an application within ninety days shall result results in the granting of a provisional registration. The current statement of registration must be displayed in a prominent place in the facility at all times, and the registration number must be stated in all advertisements of the church or religious daycare childcare center or group daycare childcare home.
Section 20-7-2920. The department may seek an injunction against the continuing operation of a child daycare childcare center or group daycare childcare home in the family court having jurisdiction over the county in which the facility is located when the facility is deemed considered to be out of compliance with the provisions of Sections 20-7-2900 and 20-7-2910.
Section 20-7-2930. Whenever the health or fire safety agency finds upon inspection that a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home is not complying with the applicable regulations, the appropriate agency shall notify the department. The department shall then request the operator to correct such deficiencies.
a. Every correction notice shall must be in writing and shall must include a statement of the deficiencies found, the period within which the deficiencies must be corrected and the provision of the subarticle and regulations relied upon. The period shall must be reasonable and, except when the appropriate agency finds an emergency dangerous to the health or safety of children, not less than thirty days from the receipt of such the notices.
b. Within two weeks of receipt of such the notice, the operator of the facility may file a written request with the department for administrative reconsideration of the notice or any portion thereof of the notice.
c. The department shall grant or deny a written request and shall notify the operator of action taken.
d. In the event that the operator of the facility fails to correct deficiencies within the period prescribed, the department may suspend the registration of the facility to be effective thirty days after date of notice. An appeal may be taken pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 20-7-2940. a. When the registration of a facility has been suspended, the operator must be given prompt written notice. The notice must indicate the reasons for the suspension and inform the operator of the right to appeal the decision through administrative channels to the department and according to established appeals procedure for the department.
b. Upon appeal, the decision of the department is final unless appealed by a party pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 20-7-2970. An operator violating the provisions of Sections 20-7-2910 through 20-7-2970 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
Section 20-7-2975. During the hours of operation all child day care childcare facilities, except registered family day care childcare homes, must have on the premises at least one caregiver with a current certificate for the provision of basic first aid and child-infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Section 20-7-2980. a. The department shall with the advice and consent of the Advisory Committee develop and promulgate regulations depending upon the nature of services to be provided for the operation and maintenance of child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes. The department with the advice of the Advisory Committee shall develop suggested standards which shall serve as guidelines for the operators of family day care childcare homes and the parents of children who use the service. In developing such these regulations and suggested standards, the department shall consult with:
(1) Other state agencies, including the State Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Office of the Attorney General.
(2) Parents, guardians, or custodians of children using the service.
(3) Child advocacy groups.
(4) The State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities established by this subarticle.
(5) Operators of child day care childcare facilities from all sectors.
(6) Professionals in fields relevant to child care childcare and development.
(7) Employers of parents, guardians, or custodians of children using the service.
Draft formulations shall must be widely circulated for criticism and comment.
b. The regulations for operating and maintaining child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes and the suggested standards for family day care childcare homes shall must be designed to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the children who are to be served by assuring safe and adequate physical surroundings and healthful food; by assuring supervision and care of the children by capable, qualified personnel of sufficient number. The regulations with respect to licensing and approval, and the suggested standards with respect to registration of family day care childcare homes shall must be designed to promote the proper and efficient processing of matters within the cognizance of the department and to assure applicants, licensees, approved operators, and registrants fair and expeditious treatment under the law.
c. The department shall conduct a comprehensive review of its licensing and approval regulations and family day care childcare home suggested standards at least once each three years.
d. No regulations for child day care childcare facilities shall may exceed policies or minimum standards set for public child day care childcare facilities regulated under this subarticle.
e. The department shall submit final drafts of its regulations to the Legislative Council as proposed regulations, and the Administrative Procedures Act Sections 1-23-10, et seq. shall govern governs their promulgation.
f. The department shall establish a procedure for its representatives to follow in receiving and recording complaints. Standard forms may be produced and made available to parents and users of facilities upon request to the department. A copy of any complaint shall must be made available to the involved operator immediately upon his request.
Section 20-7-2990. a In exercising the powers of licensing, approving, renewing, revoking, or making provisional licenses and approvals, the department shall investigate and inspect licensees and approved operators and applicants for a license or an approval. The authorized representative of the department may visit a child day care childcare center or group day care childcare home anytime during the hours of operation for purposes of investigations and inspections. In conducting investigations and inspections, the department may call on political subdivisions and governmental agencies for appropriate assistance within their authorized fields. The inspection of the health and fire safety of child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes must be completed upon the request of the department by the appropriate agencies (i.e., Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, or local authorities). Inspection reports completed by state agencies and local authorities must be furnished to the department and become a part of its determination of conformity for licensing and approval. After careful consideration of the reports and consultation where necessary, the department shall assume responsibility for the final determination of licensing, approving, renewing, revoking, or making provisional licenses and approvals.
b. Before issuing a license or approval the department shall conduct an investigation of the applicant and the proposed plan of care for children and for operating a child day care childcare center or a group day care childcare home. If the results of the investigation satisfy the department that the provisions of this subarticle and the applicable regulations promulgated by the department are satisfied, a license or approval must be issued.
Section 20-7-3000. The department shall offer consultation through employed staff or other qualified person to assist applicants and operators in meeting and maintaining regulations.
Section 20-7-3005. At the time of initial licensing, approval, or registration a child day care childcare facility shall must provide proof of conformity or authorized nonconformity with county or municipal zoning ordinances or resolutions. The department may impose conditions on the license, approval, or registration consistent with restrictions imposed by zoning authorities.
Section 20-7-3010. The department is empowered to seek an injunction against the continuing operation of a child day care childcare facility in the family court having jurisdiction over the county in which the facility is located:
(1) when a facility is operating without a license or statement of registration;
(2) when there is any violation of this subarticle or of the regulations promulgated by the department which threatens serious harm to children in the child day care childcare facility;
(3) when an operator has repeatedly violated this subarticle or the regulations of the department.
Section 20-7-3020. a. The department has power to issue a provisional registration, provisional license, or provisional approval only when the department is satisfied that (1) the regulations can and will be met within a reasonable time, and (2) the deviations do not seriously threaten the health or safety of the children. A provisional registration, provisional license, or provisional approval, may be extended for such a period as may be determined by the department.
b. Except as noted in item subsection c. of this section, no provisional license or provisional approval may be issued effective for any longer than one year.
c. Any facility granted a license or exempt from obtaining a license under the act previously in effect in this State and which does not qualify for a regular license under this subarticle shall must be granted a provisional license in accord with item subsection a. of this section. Such a The provisional license may be issued without regard to the time limit of item subsection b. of this section. No provisional license issued under item subsection c. shall remain is effective, either by its initial issue or by renewal, for a period greater than three years.
Section 20-7-3030. Upon request of an applicant or operator, the department shall offer consultation to address any aspect of compliance with this subarticle or the regulations promulgated under this subarticle. Consultation includes, but is not limited to, review and comment on drawings and specifications related to construction and renovations proposed by a facility.
Section 20-7-3040. a. A State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities is hereby established. It shall consist consists of seventeen members appointed by the Governor, in accordance with the following:
(1) Five of the members appointed shall must be parents of children who are receiving child day care childcare services at the time of appointment, with no less than three representing the entrepreneurial facilities.
(2) Eight of the members appointed shall must be representative of owners and operators of child day care childcare facilities, one of which shall must be an operator of a day care childcare home. No less than five other appointees shall must be operators of facilities subject to regulation who are actively engaged in the operation for profit.
(3) One member appointed shall represent the educational community of the State.
Nominees for membership on the advisory committee pursuant to items (1), (2) and (3) shall must be made from lists furnished the Governor by South Carolina organizations representing the various types of child day care childcare facilities defined in this subarticle.
(4) One member appointed shall represent the business community of the State. Nominees for membership pursuant to this item shall must be made from lists furnished the Governor by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
(5) Two members appointed shall represent church-operated child day care childcare centers, one of whom shall must be an operator of a church child day care childcare center and one of whom shall must be a parent of a child who is receiving child day care childcare services in a church-operated child day care childcare center at the time of appointment.
b. Members shall serve for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of those initially appointed five shall serve for one year, five for two years, and five for three years. Vacancies shall must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term only. Reappointment to serve a full term may ensue, however, at the discretion of the Governor, but however, no member shall may be permitted to succeed himself after serving a full term.
c. The chairman of the committee shall must be designated by the Governor from among the appointees selected pursuant to the provisions of items (1) and (2) of subsection a. of this section.
Section 20-7-3050. The State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day CareChildcare Facilities shall:
a. Review changes in the regulations and suggested standards proposed by the director or his designee and make recommendations thereon on these changes to the director or his designee. The committee shall evaluate the regulations and suggested standards at the three-year review period (subsection c. of Section 20-7-2980) and recommend necessary changes. No regulation shall may be promulgated if the standard has been disapproved by a simple majority of the committee.
b. Advise the department regarding the improvement of the regulation of child day care childcare facilities.
c. Advise the department on matters of regulatory policy, planning, and priorities.
d. As it deems considers necessary, hold a public hearing at least thirty days prior to before adoption of the regulations.
e. Plan with the department for the procedures to be used in notifying licensees, approved operators, and registrants regarding regulatory changes sixty days prior to before intended promulgation.
f. Maintain through the department the essential liaison with other departments and agencies of state and local government so as to preclude imposition of duplicate requirements upon operators subject to regulations under this subarticle.
g. Act to move the adoption of its recommendations and other pertinent disposition of matters before it by decision of a simple majority of those members present and voting, provided there is a quorum of eight members.
Section 20-7-3055. The provisions of Sections 20-7-2980 and 20-7-3050(a) concerning the review authority and the promulgation of regulations and standards upon the advice and consent of the State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities are waived. However, nothing in this section affects the regulation of day care childcare facilities which choose not to receive federal funding.
Section 20-7-3060. The department shall provide reasonable secretarial and administrative support to the advisory committee.
Section 20-7-3070. In order to provide for the gradual implementation of the licensing, approval, and registration programs, each child day care childcare facility not licensed under the act previously in effect in this State must apply to the department for licensing, approval, or statement of registration within six months of June 13, 1977. The department shall have one year from June 13, 1977 to take action to issue or deny license or approval of child day care childcare centers and group day care childcare homes or issue a statement of registration to family day care childcare homes.
Section 20-7-3090. A person violating the provisions of this subarticle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
Section 20-7-3092. The fingerprint reviews required by this subarticle are not required of a certified education personnel who has undergone a fingerprint review pursuant to Section 59-26-40 or of a person licensed as a foster parent who has undergone a state and federal fingerprint review pursuant to Section 20-7-1640, and the results of these reviews have been submitted to the department and the person has remained employed since the review in certified education or licensed as a foster parent or the reviews have been conducted within the preceding year.
Section 20-7-3095. It is a separate criminal offense, and a felony, for a person to unlawfully commit any of the offenses listed in Chapter 3 of Title 16, Offenses Against the Person, a crime listed in Chapter 15 of Title 16, Offenses Against Morality and Decency, or the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor contained in Section 16-17-490 while within a radius of one hundred yards of the grounds of a public or private child day care childcare facility. A person who commits this offense must, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars or imprisonment not to exceed ten years or both, in addition to any other penalty imposed by law and not in lieu of any other penalty.
Section 20-7-3097. (A) Before the Department of Social Services employs a person in its day care childcare licensing or child protective services divisions, the person shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine any state criminal history and a fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine any other criminal history. No person may be employed in these divisions if the person has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any crime listed in Section 20-7-2725(A).
(B) Notwithstanding subsection (A) or any other provision of law, a person may be provisionally employed in the day care childcare licensing or child protective services divisions upon receipt and review of the results of the State Law Enforcement Division fingerprint review if the results show no convictions of the crimes referenced in subsection (A). Pending receipt of the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint review, the department must obtain from the prospective employee a written affirmation on a form provided by the department that the employee has not been convicted of any crime referenced in subsection (A).
(C) A person who has been convicted of a crime referenced in subsection (A) who applies for employment with the day care childcare licensing or child protective services divisions is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Section 20-7-3098. At any time the department cites a child day care childcare center, group day care childcare home, or family day care childcare home for a violation of this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, the department shall provide the owner and operator of the center with a brochure stating, in language easily understood, the rights and procedures available to the owner or operator for a hearing in accordance with the department's fair hearing regulations and the rights and procedures available to appeal a decision rendered under the department's fair hearing process."
SECTION 9. Section 20-7-9710(G) of the 1976 Code as added by Act 99 of 1999, is amended to read:
"(G) The following organizations shall designate one member to serve as an ex officio nonvoting member:
(a) South Carolina State Library;
(b) Transportation Association of South Carolina; and
(c) State Advisory Committee on the Regulation of Child Day Care Childcare Facilities.
The terms of the members are for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except of those first appointed. When making the initial appointments, the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate half of their appointments to serve two-year terms only. The appointments of the members from the General Assembly shall be coterminous with their terms of office.
Vacancies for any reason must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term. No member shall may serve more than two terms or eight years, whichever is longer. Members who miss more than three consecutive meetings without excuse or members who resign must be replaced in the same manner as their predecessor. Members may be paid per diem, mileage, and subsistence as established by the board not to exceed standards provided by law for boards, committees, and commissions. A complete report of the activities of the First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees must be made annually to the General Assembly and the State Auditor."
SECTION 10. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:17 P.M.