130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 11As Reported by the House Health Committee
As Reported by the House Health Committee

125th General Assembly
Regular Session
2003-2004
Sub. H. B. No. 11


REPRESENTATIVES Jerse, Redfern, Allen, Raga, Miller, Widowfield, S. Patton, Hartnett, Kearns, Seitz, Oelslager, D. Stewart, Hollister, Strahorn, Boccieri, Sykes, Perry, Olman, DePiero, Hagan, Otterman, Raussen, Sferra, Price, Carano, Ujvagi, Koziura, Seaver, Domenick, Yates, G. Smith, Cirelli, Fessler, DeBose, Reidelbach, Barrett, Harwood, Schneider, Blasdel, Hoops, Taylor, White



A BILL
To amend section 5104.011 and to enact sections 2919.223, 2919.224, 2919.225, 2919.226, and 2919.227 of the Revised Code to create the offenses of misrepresentation by a child day-care provider, failure of a child day-care center to disclose the death or serious injury of a child, and failure of a type A or type B family day-care home to disclose the death or serious injury of a child.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 5104.011 be amended and sections 2919.223, 2919.224, 2919.225, 2919.226, and 2919.227 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2919.223. As used in sections 2919.223 to 2919.227 of the Revised Code:
(A) "Child day-care," "child day-care center," "in-home aide," "type A family day-care home," and "type B family day-care home" have the same meanings as in section 5104.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) "Child day-care center licensee" means the owner of a child day-care center licensed pursuant to Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code who is responsible for ensuring the center's compliance with Chapter 5104. of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to that chapter.
(C) "Child day-care facility" means a child day-care center, a type A family day-care home, or a type B family day-care home.
(D) "Child day-care provider" means any of the following:
(1) An owner, provider, administrator, or employee of, or volunteer at, a child day-care facility;
(2) An in-home aide;
(3) A person who represents that the person provides child day-care.
(E) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2919.224. (A) No child day-care provider shall knowingly misrepresent any factor or condition that relates to the provision of child day-care and that substantially affects the health or safety of any child or children in that provider's facility or receiving child day-care from that provider to any of the following:
(1) A parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child in the provider's facility or receiving child day-care from the provider;
(2) A parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child who is considering the provider as a child day-care provider for the child;
(3) A public official responsible for issuing the provider a license or certificate to provide child day-care;
(4) A public official investigating or inquiring about the provision of child day-care by the provider;
(5) A peace officer.
(B) For the purposes of this section, "any factor or condition that relates to the provision of child day-care" includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The person or persons who will provide child day-care to the child of the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child, or to the children in general;
(2) The qualifications to provide child day-care of the child day-care provider, of a person employed by the provider, or of a person who provides child day-care as a volunteer;
(3) The number of children to whom child day-care is provided at one time or the number of children receiving child day-care in the child day-care facility at one time;
(4) The conditions or safety features of the day-care facility;
(5) The area of the child day-care facility in which child day-care is provided.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of misrepresentation by a child day-care provider, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 2919.225. (A) Subject to division (C) of this section, no owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or type B family day-care home, knowing that the event described in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section has occurred, shall accept a child into that home without first disclosing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child any of the following that has occurred:
(1) A child died while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator or died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator.
(2) Within the preceding ten years, a child suffered injuries while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator, and those injuries led to the child being hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours.
(B)(1) Subject to division (C) of this section, no owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or type B family day-care home shall fail to provide notice in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section to the persons and entities specified in division (B)(2) of this section, of any of the following that occurs:
(a) A child who is under the care of the home or is receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator dies while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator or dies as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator.
(b) A child who is under the care of the home or is receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator.
(2) An owner, provider, or administrator of a home shall provide the notices required under division (B)(1) of this section to each of the following:
(a) For each child who, at the time of the injury or death for which the notice is required, is receiving or is enrolled to receive child day-care at the home or from the owner, provider, or administrator, to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child;
(b) If the notice is required as the result of the death of a child as described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, to the public children services agency of the county in which the home is located or the child day-care was given, a municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the home is located or the child day-care was given, and the child fatality review board appointed under section 307.621 of the Revised Code that serves the county in which the home is located or the child day-care was given.
(3) An owner, provider, or administrator of a home shall provide the notices required by divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section not later than forty-eight hours after the child dies or, regarding a child who is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home, not later than forty-eight hours after the child suffers the injuries. If a child is hospitalized for more than twenty-four hours as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the home, and the child subsequently dies as a result of those injuries, the owner, provider, or administrator shall provide separate notices under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section regarding both the injuries and the death. All notices provided under divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section shall state that the death or injury occurred.
(C) Division (A) of this section does not require more than one person to make disclosures to the same parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child regarding any single injury or death for which disclosure is required under that division. Division (B) of this section does not require more than one person to give notices to the same parent, guardian, custodian, other person responsible for the care of the child, public children services agency, peace officer, or child fatality review board regarding any single injury or death for which disclosure is required under division (B)(1) of this section.
(D) An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or type B family day-care home is not subject to civil liability solely for making a disclosure required by this section.
(E) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure of a type A or type B family day-care home to disclose the death or serious injury of a child, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Sec. 2919.226. (A) If a child day-care provider accurately answers the questions on a child day-care disclosure form that is in substantially the form set forth in division (B) of this section, presents the form to a person identified in division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form, to the extent that the information set forth on the form is accurate, the provider who presents the form is not subject to prosecution under division (A) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code regarding presentation of that information to that person.
An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or a type B family day-care home may comply with division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code by accurately answering the questions on a child day-care disclosure form that is in substantially the form set forth in division (B) of this section, providing a copy of the form to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child and to whom disclosure is to be made under division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code, and obtaining the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form.
The use of the form set forth in division (B) of this section is discretionary and is not required to comply with any disclosure requirement contained in section 2919.225 of the Revised Code or for any purpose related to section 2919.224 of the Revised Code.
(B) To be sufficient for the purposes described in division (A) of this section, a child day-care disclosure form shall be in substantially the following form:
"CHILD DAY-CARE DISCLOSURE FORM
Please Note: This form contains information that is accurate only at the time the form is given to you. The information provided in this form is likely to change over time. It is the duty of the person responsible for the care of the child to monitor the status of child day-care services to ensure that those services remain satisfactory. If a question on this form is left unanswered, the child day-care provider makes no assertion regarding the question. Choosing appropriate child day-care for a child is a serious responsibility, and the person responsible for the care of the child is encouraged to make all appropriate inquiries. Also, in acknowledging receipt of this form, the person responsible for the care of the child acknowledges that in selecting the child day-care provider the person is not relying on any representations other than those provided in this form unless the child day-care provider has acknowledged the other representations in writing.
1. What are the names and qualifications to provide child day-care of: (a) the child day-care provider, (b) the employee who will provide child day-care to the applicant child, (c) the volunteer who will provide child day-care to the applicant child, and (d) any other employees or volunteers of the child day care provider? (attach additional sheets if necessary):


2. What is the maximum number of children to whom you provide child day-care at one time? (If children are divided into groups or classes, please describe the maximum number of children in each group or class and indicate the group or class in which the applicant child will be placed.):


3. Where in the home will you provide child day-care to the applicant child?:


4. Has a child died while in the care of, or receiving child day-care from, the child day-care provider? (Yes/No)
Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary)


5. Has a child died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of, or receiving child day-care from, the child day-care provider? (Yes/No)
Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary)


6. Within the preceding ten years, has a child suffered injuries while under the care of, or receiving child day-care from, the child day-care provider that led to the child being hospitalized for more than 24 hours? (Yes/No)
Description/explanation (attach additional sheets if necessary)


Signature of person completing form Date

Name of person completing form
(Typed or printed)

Title of person completing form
(Typed or printed)

Acknowledgement:
I hereby acknowledge that I have been given a copy of the preceding document and have read and understood its contents. I further acknowledge that I am not relying on any other representations in selecting the child day-care provider unless the child day-care provider has acknowledged the other representations in writing.

Person receiving the form Date"

(C) If a child day-care provider accurately answers the questions on a disclosure form that is substantially similar to the form described in division (B) of this section and, presents the form to a person identified in division (A)(1) or (2) of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form, to the extent that the information set forth on the form is accurate, the form is sufficient for the purposes described in division (A) of this section.
An owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or a type B family day-care home who accurately answers the questions on a disclosure form that is substantially similar to the form described in division (B) of this section, provides a copy of the completed form to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person who is responsible for the care of a child and to whom disclosure is to be made under division (A) of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code, and obtains the person's signature on the acknowledgement in the form complies with the requirements of that division. If the owner, provider, or administrator uses the disclosure form, leaving a portion of the disclosure form blank does not constitute a misrepresentation for the purposes of section 2919.224 of the Revised Code but may constitute a violation of section 2919.225 of the Revised Code. The owner, provider, or administrator of a type A family day-care home or type B family day-care home who completes the disclosure form and provides a copy of the form to any person described in section 2919.224 or 2919.225 of the Revised Code may retain a copy of the completed form.
Sec. 2919.227.  (A)(1) No child day-care center licensee shall accept a child into that center without first providing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child the following information, if the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of the child requests the information:
(a) The types of injuries to children, as reported in accordance with rules adopted under section 5104.011 of the Revised Code, that occurred at the center on or after April 1, 2003, or the date that is two years before the date the information is requested, whichever date is more recent;
(b) The number of each type of injury to children that occurred at the center during that period.
(2) If a death described in division (A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) occurred during the fifteen-year period immediately preceding the date that the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child seeks to enroll that child, no child day-care center licensee shall accept that child into that center without first providing to the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of that child a notice that states that the death occurred.
(a) A child died while under the care of the center or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center;
(b) A child died as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the center or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center.
(3) Each child day-care center licensee shall keep on file at the center a copy of the information provided under this division for at least three years after providing the information.
(B)(1) No child day-care center licensee shall fail to provide notice in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section to the persons and entities specified in division (B)(2) of this section if a child who is under the care of the center or is receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator of the center dies while under the care of the center or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator or dies as a result of injuries suffered while under the care of the center or while receiving child day-care from the owner, provider, or administrator.
(2) A child day-care center licensee shall provide the notice required under division (B)(1) of this section to all of the following:
(a) The parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of each child who, at the time of the death for which notice is required, is receiving or is enrolled to receive child day-care from the center;
(b) The public children services agency of the county in which the center is located or the child day-care was given;
(c) A municipal or county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the center is located or the child day-care was given;
(d) The child fatality review board appointed under section 307.621 of the Revised Code that serves the county in which the center is located or the child day-care was given.
(3) A child day-care center licensee shall provide the notice required by division (B)(1) of this section not later than forty-eight hours after the child dies. The notice shall state that the death occurred.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) or (B) of this section is guilty of failure of a child day-care center to disclose the death or serious injury of a child, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Sec. 5104.011.  (A) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the operation of child day-care centers, including, but not limited to, parent cooperative centers, part-time centers, drop-in centers, and school child centers, which rules shall reflect the various forms of child day-care and the needs of children receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care and, no later than January 1, 1992, shall include specific rules for school child day-care centers that are developed in consultation with the department of education. The rules shall not require an existing school facility that is in compliance with applicable building codes to undergo an additional building code inspection or to have structural modifications. The rules shall include the following:
(1) Submission of a site plan and descriptive plan of operation to demonstrate how the center proposes to meet the requirements of this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter for the initial license application;
(2) Standards for ensuring that the physical surroundings of the center are safe and sanitary including, but not limited to, the physical environment, the physical plant, and the equipment of the center;
(3) Standards for the supervision, care, and discipline of children receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the center;
(4) Standards for a program of activities, and for play equipment, materials, and supplies, to enhance the development of each child; however, any educational curricula, philosophies, and methodologies that are developmentally appropriate and that enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of each child shall be permissible. As used in this division, "program" does not include instruction in religious or moral doctrines, beliefs, or values that is conducted at child day-care centers owned and operated by churches and does include methods of disciplining children at child day-care centers.
(5) Admissions policies and procedures, health care policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, procedures for the isolation of children with communicable diseases, first aid and emergency procedures, procedures for discipline and supervision of children, standards for the provision of nutritious meals and snacks, and procedures for screening children and employees, including, but not limited to, any necessary physical examinations and immunizations;
(6) Methods for encouraging parental participation in the center and methods for ensuring that the rights of children, parents, and employees are protected and that responsibilities of parents and employees are met;
(7) Procedures for ensuring the safety and adequate supervision of children traveling off the premises of the center while under the care of a center employee;
(8) Procedures for record keeping, organization, and administration;
(9) Procedures for issuing, renewing, denying, and revoking a license that are not otherwise provided for in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code;
(10) Inspection procedures;
(11) Procedures and standards for setting initial and renewal license application fees;
(12) Procedures for receiving, recording, and responding to complaints about centers;
(13) Procedures for enforcing section 5104.04 of the Revised Code;
(14) A standard requiring the inclusion, on and after July 1, 1987, of a current department of job and family services toll-free telephone number on each center provisional license or license which any person may use to report a suspected violation by the center of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter;
(15) Requirements for the training of administrators and child-care staff members in first aid, in prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases, and in child abuse recognition and prevention. Training requirements for child day-care centers adopted under this division shall be consistent with divisions (B)(6) and (C)(1) of this section.
(16) Procedures to be used by licensees for checking the references of potential employees of centers and procedures to be used by the director for checking the references of applicants for licenses to operate centers;
(17) Standards providing for the special needs of children who are handicapped or who require treatment for health conditions while the child is receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the center;
(18) A procedure for reporting injuries of children that occur at the center;
(19) Any other procedures and standards necessary to carry out this chapter.
(B)(1) The child day-care center shall have, for each child for whom the center is licensed, at least thirty-five square feet of usable indoor floor space wall-to-wall regularly available for the child day-care operation exclusive of any parts of the structure in which the care of children is prohibited by law or by rules adopted by the board of building standards. The minimum of thirty-five square feet of usable indoor floor space shall not include hallways, kitchens, storage areas, or any other areas that are not available for the care of children, as determined by the director, in meeting the space requirement of this division, and bathrooms shall be counted in determining square footage only if they are used exclusively by children enrolled in the center, except that the exclusion of hallways, kitchens, storage areas, bathrooms not used exclusively by children enrolled in the center, and any other areas not available for the care of children from the minimum of thirty-five square feet of usable indoor floor space shall not apply to:
(a) Centers licensed prior to or on September 1, 1986, that continue under licensure after that date;
(b) Centers licensed prior to or on September 1, 1986, that are issued a new license after that date solely due to a change of ownership of the center.
(2) The child day-care center shall have on the site a safe outdoor play space which is enclosed by a fence or otherwise protected from traffic or other hazards. The play space shall contain not less than sixty square feet per child using such space at any one time, and shall provide an opportunity for supervised outdoor play each day in suitable weather. The director may exempt a center from the requirement of this division, if an outdoor play space is not available and if all of the following are met:
(a) The center provides an indoor recreation area that has not less than sixty square feet per child using the space at any one time, that has a minimum of one thousand four hundred forty square feet of space, and that is separate from the indoor space required under division (B)(1) of this section.
(b) The director has determined that there is regularly available and scheduled for use a conveniently accessible and safe park, playground, or similar outdoor play area for play or recreation.
(c) The children are closely supervised during play and while traveling to and from the area.
The director also shall exempt from the requirement of this division a child day-care center that was licensed prior to September 1, 1986, if the center received approval from the director prior to September 1, 1986, to use a park, playground, or similar area, not connected with the center, for play or recreation in lieu of the outdoor space requirements of this section and if the children are closely supervised both during play and while traveling to and from the area and except if the director determines upon investigation and inspection pursuant to section 5104.04 of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to that section that the park, playground, or similar area, as well as access to and from the area, is unsafe for the children.
(3) The child day-care center shall have at least two responsible adults available on the premises at all times when seven or more children are in the center. The center shall organize the children in the center in small groups, shall provide child-care staff to give continuity of care and supervision to the children on a day-by-day basis, and shall ensure that no child is left alone or unsupervised. Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, the maximum number of children per child-care staff member and maximum group size, by age category of children, are as follows:
Maximum Number of
Children Per Maximum
Age Category Child-Care Group
of Children Staff Member Size
(a) Infants:
(i) Less than twelve
months old 5:1, or
12:2 if two
child-care
staff members
are in the room 12
(ii) At least twelve
months old, but
less than eighteen
months old 6:1 12
(b) Toddlers:
(i) At least eighteen
months old, but
less than thirty
months old 7:1 14
(ii) At least thirty months
old, but less than
three years old 8:1 16
(c) Preschool
children:
(i) Three years old 12:1 24
(ii) Four years old and
five years old who
are not school
children 14:1 28
(d) School children:
(i) A child who is
enrolled in or is
eligible to be
enrolled in a grade
of kindergarten
or above, but
is less than
eleven years old 18:1 36
(ii) Eleven through fourteen
years old 20:1 40

Except as otherwise provided in division (E) of this section, the maximum number of children per child-care staff member and maximum group size requirements of the younger age group shall apply when age groups are combined.
(4)(a) The child day-care center administrator shall show the director both of the following:
(i) Evidence of at least high school graduation or certification of high school equivalency by the state board of education or the appropriate agency of another state;
(ii) Evidence of having completed at least two years of training in an accredited college, university, or technical college, including courses in child development or early childhood education, or at least two years of experience in supervising and giving daily care to children attending an organized group program.
(b) In addition to the requirements of division (B)(4)(a) of this section, any administrator employed or designated on or after September 1, 1986, shall show evidence of, and any administrator employed or designated prior to September 1, 1986, shall show evidence within six years after such date of, at least one of the following:
(i) Two years of experience working as a child-care staff member in a center and at least four courses in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college, university, or technical college, except that a person who has two years of experience working as a child-care staff member in a particular center and who has been promoted to or designated as administrator of that center shall have one year from the time the person was promoted to or designated as administrator to complete the required four courses;
(ii) Two years of training, including at least four courses in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college, university, or technical college;
(iii) A child development associate credential issued by the national child development associate credentialing commission;
(iv) An associate or higher degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college, technical college, or university, or a license designated for teaching in an associate teaching position in a preschool setting issued by the state board of education.
(5) All child-care staff members of a child day-care center shall be at least eighteen years of age, and shall furnish the director evidence of at least high school graduation or certification of high school equivalency by the state board of education or the appropriate agency of another state or evidence of completion of a training program approved by the department of job and family services or state board of education, except as follows:
(a) A child-care staff member may be less than eighteen years of age if the staff member is either of the following:
(i) A graduate of a two-year vocational child-care training program approved by the state board of education;
(ii) A student enrolled in the second year of a vocational child-care training program approved by the state board of education which leads to high school graduation, provided that the student performs the student's duties in the child day-care center under the continuous supervision of an experienced child-care staff member, receives periodic supervision from the vocational child-care training program teacher-coordinator in the student's high school, and meets all other requirements of this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(b) A child-care staff member shall be exempt from the educational requirements of this division if the staff member:
(i) Prior to January 1, 1972, was employed or designated by a child day-care center and has been continuously employed since either by the same child day-care center employer or at the same child day-care center; or
(ii) Is a student enrolled in the second year of a vocational child-care training program approved by the state board of education which leads to high school graduation, provided that the student performs the student's duties in the child day-care center under the continuous supervision of an experienced child-care staff member, receives periodic supervision from the vocational child-care training program teacher-coordinator in the student's high school, and meets all other requirements of this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(6) Every child day-care staff member of a child day-care center annually shall complete fifteen hours of inservice training in child development or early childhood education, child abuse recognition and prevention, first aid, and in prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases, until a total of forty-five hours of training has been completed, unless the staff member furnishes one of the following to the director:
(a) Evidence of an associate or higher degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college, university, or technical college;
(b) A license designated for teaching in an associate teaching position in a preschool setting issued by the state board of education;
(c) Evidence of a child development associate credential;
(d) Evidence of a preprimary credential from the American Montessori society or the association Montessori international. For the purposes of division (B)(6) of this section, "hour" means sixty minutes.
(7) The administrator of each child day-care center shall prepare at least once annually and for each group of children at the center a roster of names and telephone numbers of parents, custodians, or guardians of each group of children attending the center and upon request shall furnish the roster for each group to the parents, custodians, or guardians of the children in that group. The administrator may prepare a roster of names and telephone numbers of all parents, custodians, or guardians of children attending the center and upon request shall furnish the roster to the parents, custodians, or guardians of the children who attend the center. The administrator shall not include in any roster the name or telephone number of any parent, custodian, or guardian who requests the administrator not to include the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's name or number and shall not furnish any roster to any person other than a parent, custodian, or guardian of a child who attends the center.
(C)(1) Each child day-care center shall have on the center premises and readily available at all times at least one child-care staff member who has completed a course in first aid and in prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases which is approved by the state department of health and a staff member who has completed a course in child abuse recognition and prevention training which is approved by the department of job and family services.
(2) The administrator of each child day-care center shall maintain enrollment, health, and attendance records for all children attending the center and health and employment records for all center employees. The records shall be confidential, except as otherwise provided in division (B)(7) of this section and except that they shall be disclosed by the administrator to the director upon request for the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter. Neither the center nor the licensee, administrator, or employees of the center shall be civilly or criminally liable in damages or otherwise for records disclosed to the director by the administrator pursuant to this division. It shall be a defense to any civil or criminal charge based upon records disclosed by the administrator to the director that the records were disclosed pursuant to this division.
(3)(a) Any parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian of a child enrolled in a child day-care center and any custodian or guardian of such a child shall be permitted unlimited access to the center during its hours of operation for the purposes of contacting their children, evaluating the care provided by the center, evaluating the premises of the center, or for other purposes approved by the director. A parent of a child enrolled in a child day-care center who is not the child's residential parent shall be permitted unlimited access to the center during its hours of operation for those purposes under the same terms and conditions under which the residential parent of that child is permitted access to the center for those purposes. However, the access of the parent who is not the residential parent is subject to any agreement between the parents and, to the extent described in division (C)(3)(b) of this section, is subject to any terms and conditions limiting the right of access of the parent who is not the residential parent, as described in division (I) of section 3109.051 of the Revised Code, that are contained in a parenting time order or decree issued under that section, section 3109.12 of the Revised Code, or any other provision of the Revised Code.
(b) If a parent who is the residential parent of a child has presented the administrator or the administrator's designee with a copy of a parenting time order that limits the terms and conditions under which the parent who is not the residential parent is to have access to the center, as described in division (I) of section 3109.051 of the Revised Code, the parent who is not the residential parent shall be provided access to the center only to the extent authorized in the order. If the residential parent has presented such an order, the parent who is not the residential parent shall be permitted access to the center only in accordance with the most recent order that has been presented to the administrator or the administrator's designee by the residential parent or the parent who is not the residential parent.
(c) Upon entering the premises pursuant to division (C)(3)(a) or (b) of this section, the parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian, the parent who is not the residential parent, or the custodian or guardian shall notify the administrator or the administrator's designee of the parent's, custodian's, or guardian's presence.
(D) The director of job and family services, in addition to the rules adopted under division (A) of this section, shall adopt rules establishing minimum requirements for child day-care centers. The rules shall include, but not be limited to, the requirements set forth in divisions (B) and (C) of this section. Except as provided in section 5104.07 of the Revised Code, the rules shall not change the square footage requirements of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section; the maximum number of children per child-care staff member and maximum group size requirements of division (B)(3) of this section; the educational and experience requirements of division (B)(4) of this section; the age, educational, and experience requirements of division (B)(5) of this section; the number of inservice training hours required under division (B)(6) of this section; or the requirement for at least annual preparation of a roster for each group of children of names and telephone numbers of parents, custodians, or guardians of each group of children attending the center that must be furnished upon request to any parent, custodian, or guardian of any child in that group required under division (B)(7) of this section; however, the rules shall provide procedures for determining compliance with those requirements.
(E)(1) When age groups are combined, the maximum number of children per child-care staff member shall be determined by the age of the youngest child in the group, except that when no more than one child thirty months of age or older receives services in a group in which all the other children are in the next older age group, the maximum number of children per child-care staff member and maximum group size requirements of the older age group established under division (B)(3) of this section shall apply.
(2) The maximum number of toddlers or preschool children per child-care staff member in a room where children are napping shall be twice the maximum number of children per child-care staff member established under division (B)(3) of this section if all the following criteria are met:
(a) At least one child-care staff member is present in the room.
(b) Sufficient child-care staff members are on the child day-care center premises to meet the maximum number of children per child-care staff member requirements established under division (B)(3) of this section.
(c) Naptime preparations are complete and all napping children are resting or sleeping on cots.
(d) The maximum number established under division (E)(2) of this section is in effect for no more than one and one-half hours during a twenty-four-hour day.
(F) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the operation of type A family day-care homes, including, but not limited to, parent cooperative type A homes, part-time type A homes, drop-in type A homes, and school child type A homes, which shall reflect the various forms of child day-care and the needs of children receiving child day-care. The rules shall include the following:
(1) Submission of a site plan and descriptive plan of operation to demonstrate how the type A home proposes to meet the requirements of this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter for the initial license application;
(2) Standards for ensuring that the physical surroundings of the type A home are safe and sanitary, including, but not limited to, the physical environment, the physical plant, and the equipment of the type A home;
(3) Standards for the supervision, care, and discipline of children receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the type A home;
(4) Standards for a program of activities, and for play equipment, materials, and supplies, to enhance the development of each child; however, any educational curricula, philosophies, and methodologies that are developmentally appropriate and that enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of each child shall be permissible;
(5) Admissions policies and procedures, health care policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, procedures for the isolation of children with communicable diseases, first aid and emergency procedures, procedures for discipline and supervision of children, standards for the provision of nutritious meals and snacks, and procedures for screening children and employees, including, but not limited to, any necessary physical examinations and immunizations;
(6) Methods for encouraging parental participation in the type A home and methods for ensuring that the rights of children, parents, and employees are protected and that the responsibilities of parents and employees are met;
(7) Procedures for ensuring the safety and adequate supervision of children traveling off the premises of the type A home while under the care of a type A home employee;
(8) Procedures for record keeping, organization, and administration;
(9) Procedures for issuing, renewing, denying, and revoking a license that are not otherwise provided for in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code;
(10) Inspection procedures;
(11) Procedures and standards for setting initial and renewal license application fees;
(12) Procedures for receiving, recording, and responding to complaints about type A homes;
(13) Procedures for enforcing section 5104.04 of the Revised Code;
(14) A standard requiring the inclusion, on or after July 1, 1987, of a current department of job and family services toll-free telephone number on each type A home provisional license or license which any person may use to report a suspected violation by the type A home of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant this chapter;
(15) Requirements for the training of administrators and child-care staff members in first aid, in prevention, recognition, and management of communicable diseases, and in child abuse recognition and prevention;
(16) Procedures to be used by licensees for checking the references of potential employees of type A homes and procedures to be used by the director for checking the references of applicants for licenses to operate type A homes;
(17) Standards providing for the special needs of children who are handicapped or who require treatment for health conditions while the child is receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the type A home;
(18) Standards for the maximum number of children per child-care staff member;
(19) Requirements for the amount of usable indoor floor space for each child;
(20) Requirements for safe outdoor play space;
(21) Qualifications and training requirements for administrators and for child-care staff members;
(22) Procedures for granting a parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian, or a custodian or guardian access to the type A home during its hours of operation;
(23) Standards for the preparation and distribution of a roster of parents, custodians, and guardians;
(24) Any other procedures and standards necessary to carry out this chapter.
(G) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the certification of type B family day-care homes.
(1) The rules shall include procedures, standards, and other necessary provisions for granting limited certification to type B family day-care homes that are operated by the following adult providers:
(a) Persons who provide child day-care for eligible children who are great-grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or siblings of the provider or for eligible children whose caretaker parent is a grandchild, child, niece, nephew, or sibling of the provider;
(b) Persons who provide child day-care for eligible children all of whom are the children of the same caretaker parent.
The rules shall require, and shall include procedures for the director to ensure, that type B family day-care homes that receive a limited certification provide child day-care to children in a safe and sanitary manner. With regard to providers who apply for limited certification, a provider shall be granted a provisional limited certification on signing a declaration under oath attesting that the provider meets the standards for limited certification. Such provisional limited certifications shall remain in effect for no more than sixty calendar days and shall entitle the provider to offer publicly funded child day-care during the provisional period. Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1) of this section, prior to the expiration of the provisional limited certificate, a county department of job and family services shall inspect the home and shall grant limited certification to the provider if the provider meets the requirements of this division. Limited certificates remain valid for two years unless earlier revoked. Except as otherwise provided in division (G)(1) of this section, providers operating under limited certification shall be inspected annually.
If a provider is a person described in division (G)(1)(a) of this section or a person described in division (G)(1)(b) of this section who is a friend of the caretaker parent, the provider and the caretaker parent may verify in writing to the county department of job and family services that minimum health and safety requirements are being met in the home. If such verification is provided, the county shall waive any inspection and any criminal records check required by this chapter and grant limited certification to the provider.
(2) The rules shall provide for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of children receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in a certified type B home and shall include the following:
(a) Standards for ensuring that the type B home and the physical surroundings of the type B home are safe and sanitary, including, but not limited to, physical environment, physical plant, and equipment;
(b) Standards for the supervision, care, and discipline of children receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the home;
(c) Standards for a program of activities, and for play equipment, materials, and supplies to enhance the development of each child; however, any educational curricula, philosophies, and methodologies that are developmentally appropriate and that enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of each child shall be permissible;
(d) Admission policies and procedures, health care, first aid and emergency procedures, procedures for the care of sick children, procedures for discipline and supervision of children, nutritional standards, and procedures for screening children and authorized providers, including, but not limited to, any necessary physical examinations and immunizations;
(e) Methods of encouraging parental participation and ensuring that the rights of children, parents, and authorized providers are protected and the responsibilities of parents and authorized providers are met;
(f) Standards for the safe transport of children when under the care of authorized providers;
(g) Procedures for issuing, renewing, denying, refusing to renew, or revoking certificates;
(h) Procedures for the inspection of type B family day-care homes that require, at a minimum, that each type B family day-care home be inspected prior to certification to ensure that the home is safe and sanitary;
(i) Procedures for record keeping and evaluation;
(j) Procedures for receiving, recording, and responding to complaints;
(k) Standards providing for the special needs of children who are handicapped or who receive treatment for health conditions while the child is receiving child day-care or publicly funded child day-care in the type B home;
(l) Requirements for the amount of usable indoor floor space for each child;
(m) Requirements for safe outdoor play space;
(n) Qualification and training requirements for authorized providers;
(o) Procedures for granting a parent who is the residential parent and legal custodian, or a custodian or guardian access to the type B home during its hours of operation;
(p) Any other procedures and standards necessary to carry out this chapter.
(H) The director shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code governing the certification of in-home aides. The rules shall include procedures, standards, and other necessary provisions for granting limited certification to in-home aides who provide child day-care for eligible children who are great-grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or siblings of the in-home aide or for eligible children whose caretaker parent is a grandchild, child, niece, nephew, or sibling of the in-home aide. The rules shall require, and shall include procedures for the director to ensure, that in-home aides that receive a limited certification provide child day-care to children in a safe and sanitary manner. The rules shall provide for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of children receiving publicly funded child day-care in their own home and shall include the following:
(1) Standards for ensuring that the child's home and the physical surroundings of the child's home are safe and sanitary, including, but not limited to, physical environment, physical plant, and equipment;
(2) Standards for the supervision, care, and discipline of children receiving publicly funded child day-care in their own home;
(3) Standards for a program of activities, and for play equipment, materials, and supplies to enhance the development of each child; however, any educational curricula, philosophies, and methodologies that are developmentally appropriate and that enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of each child shall be permissible;
(4) Health care, first aid, and emergency procedures, procedures for the care of sick children, procedures for discipline and supervision of children, nutritional standards, and procedures for screening children and in-home aides, including, but not limited to, any necessary physical examinations and immunizations;
(5) Methods of encouraging parental participation and ensuring that the rights of children, parents, and in-home aides are protected and the responsibilities of parents and in-home aides are met;
(6) Standards for the safe transport of children when under the care of in-home aides;
(7) Procedures for issuing, renewing, denying, refusing to renew, or revoking certificates;
(8) Procedures for inspection of homes of children receiving publicly funded child day-care in their own homes;
(9) Procedures for record keeping and evaluation;
(10) Procedures for receiving, recording, and responding to complaints;
(11) Qualifications and training requirements for in-home aides;
(12) Standards providing for the special needs of children who are handicapped or who receive treatment for health conditions while the child is receiving publicly funded child day-care in the child's own home;
(13) Any other procedures and standards necessary to carry out this chapter.
(I) To the extent that any rules adopted for the purposes of this section require a health care professional to perform a physical examination, the rules shall include as a health care professional a physician assistant, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife.
(J) The director of job and family services shall send copies of proposed rules to each licensee and each county director of job and family services and shall give public notice of hearings regarding the rules to each licensee and each county director of job and family services at least thirty days prior to the date of the public hearing, in accordance with section 119.03 of the Revised Code. Prior to the effective date of a rule, the director of job and family services shall provide copies of the adopted rule to each licensee and each county director of job and family services.
The county director of job and family services shall send copies of proposed rules to each authorized provider and in-home aide and shall give public notice of hearings regarding the rules to each authorized provider and in-home aide at least thirty days prior to the date of the public hearing, in accordance with section 119.03 of the Revised Code. Prior to the effective date of a rule, the county director of job and family services shall provide copies of the adopted rule to each authorized provider and in-home aide.
Additional copies of proposed and adopted rules shall be made available by the director of job and family services to the public on request at no charge.
(K) The director of job and family services shall review all rules adopted pursuant to this chapter at least once every seven years.
(L) Notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code, the director of job and family services shall not regulate in any way under this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, instruction in religious or moral doctrines, beliefs, or values.
Section 2. That existing section 5104.011 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.
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