NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
|
|
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The Department of Health and Social Services proposes to update the licensing requirements for child care facilities.
|
|
The Department of Health and Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7, Chapter 57 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with child care facility licensing requirements, including the following:
- 7 AAC 57.010, Applicability, is proposed to be amended to update licensing requirements, delete obsolete language, and add new definitions.
- 7 AAC 57.025, Compliance and other reviews, is proposed be amended to revise requirements relating to compliance and monitoring and delete language pertaining to self-monitoring.
- 7 AAC 57.030, Application for license; biennial renewal, is proposed to be amended to require proof of a state business license.
- 7 AAC 57.050, Self-monitoring reports, is proposed to be repealed as the department will no longer be accepting self-monitoring reports.
- 7 AAC 57.220, Child care facility operation and management, is proposed to be amended so that the administrator or child care associate is on-site and available during normal business hours and any time the facility provides child care services.
- 7 AAC 57.240, Reports, is proposed to be amended to clarify what information a child care facility is required to report to the department.
- 7 AAC 27.300, Qualifications of an administrator, is proposed to be amended to revise the requirements of an administrator for a child care center, child care group home, or child care home.
- 7 AAC 57.310, Qualifications and responsibilities of employees and other individuals in a child care facility, is proposed to be amended clarify a caregiver’s responsibilities.
- 7 AAC 57.320, Caregiver age requirements and additional qualifications for adolescent caregivers, is proposed to be amended to revise the caregiver qualifications and age requirements.
- 7 AAC 57.330, Additional employee qualifications for child care centers, is proposed to be amended to clarify who qualifies as a child care associate and employees that must be on-site.
- 7 AAC 57.350, Orientation and training, is proposed to be amended to revise the caregiver training requirements.
- 7 AAC 57.500, Supervision of children, is proposed to be amended to clarify potential dangers that a child care facility must prevent exposure to.
- 7 AAC 57.505, Child to caregiver ratios, is proposed to be amended to revise the child to caregiver ratios in a child care facility.
- 7 AAC 57.520, Program, is proposed to be amended to clarify parental involvement in a child care facility and delete obsolete language.
- 7 AAC 57.550, Health, is proposed to be amended to revise the proof of immunization requirements for a child care facility.
- 7 AAC 57.920, Appeals, is proposed to be amended to clarify the appeal process by a child care facility.
- 7 AAC 57.990, Definitions, is proposed to be amended to further define terminology relating to child care facilities.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Amanda Manning, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office, 3601 C Street, Ste 140; P.O. Box 241809, Anchorage, AK 99524-1809; Email: amanda.manning@alaska.gov
The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2014.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Amanda Manning at the address above or by phone at (907) 269-4516 or toll-free 1-888-268-4632 no later than September 23, 2014 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
For a copy of the proposed regulation changes, contact Amanda Manning at the address above or go to the Alaska Online Public Notice System website at: http://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/ and click on the attachment at the bottom of the page for this public notice
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health and Social Services will either adopt these or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action on them. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory Authority: AS 44.29.020, AS 47.05.010, AS 47.05.310, AS 47.05.320, AS 47.05.330, AS 47.05.340, AS 47.32.010, AS 47.32.020, AS 47.32.030, AS 47.32.040, AS 47.32.050, AS 47.32.060, AS 47.32.080, AS 47.32.090, AS 47.32.100, AS 47.32.110, AS 47.32.130, AS 47.32.140, AS 47.32.150, AS 47.32.200.
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific AS 44.29.020, AS 47.05.010, AS 47.05.310, AS 47.05.320, AS 47.05.330, AS 47.05.340, AS 47.32.010, AS 47.32.020, AS 47.32.030, AS 47.32.040, AS 47.32.050, AS 47.32.060, AS 47.32.080, AS 47.32.090, AS 47.32.100, AS 47.32.110, AS 47.32.130, AS 47.32.140, AS 47.32.150, AS 47.32.200.
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: 8/27/2014
/s/William J. Streur, Commissioner
Department of Health and Social Services
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Department of Health and Social Services
2. General subject of regulation: Child care facility licensing.
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 7 AAC 57.
4. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) compliance with federal law
( ) compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) compliance with court order
(X) development of program standards
( ) other: (please list)
5. RDU/component affected: Public Assistance
6. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):
Initial Year Subsequent
FY 15 Years
Operating Cost $0 $0
Capital Cost $0________ $0_______
Federal receipts $0 $0
General fund match $0 $0
General fund $0________ $0________
General fund/
program receipts $0 $0________
General fund/
mental health $0________ $0________
Other funds (specify) $0________ $0________
7. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Amanda Manning
Child Care Program Office
P.O. Box 241809, Anchorage, AK 99524-1809
Email: amanda.manning@alaska.gov
8. The origin of the proposed action:
__X__ staff of state agency
_____ federal government
_____ general public
_____ petition for regulation change
_____ other (please list)___________________________________________________
9. Date: 8/27/2014
Prepared by: Kurt D. West, Project Coordinator