No. 39898 (Amendment): Rule R381-70. Out of School Time Child Care Programs

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39898
Filed: 10/30/2015 09:47:35 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The proposed changes are mostly to clarify rules and to facilitate compliance.

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule changes are proposed by the Child Care Center Licensing Committee. They include needed definitions, clarification of some terms, explanation on needed training for new directors, renumbering, and the deletion of some no longer required processes.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Title 63G, Chapter 3

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

Some state agencies operate Out of School Time Programs. However, the Department does not anticipate any cost or savings as a result of this change.

local governments:

Some local governments operate Out of School Time Programs. Since the proposed changes are mostly clarification to the current rule and training for new directors is provided by Child Care Licensing at no cost, the Department does not anticipate any new costs or savings to child care programs operated by state agencies.

small businesses:

Almost all Out of School Time Programs are small businesses. Since the proposed changes are mostly clarification to the current rule and training for new directors is provided by Child Care Licensing at no cost, the Department does not anticipate any new costs or savings to child care small business.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

Because this rule will not change any of the requirements for child care programs, except required training for new directors which is provided by Child Care Licensing at no cost, the Department does not anticipate any new costs or savings to entities or persons that are not small businesses.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Because this rule will not change any of the requirements for child care programs, the Department does not anticipate any compliance costs for affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This amendment has no fiscal impact on business because the Department provides free training to meet the additional training requirements for directors.

Joseph Miner, MD, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Health
Child Care Center Licensing Committee
3760 S HIGHLAND DR
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84106

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Simon Bolivar at the above address, by phone at 801-803-4618, by FAX at 801-237-0786, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

12/15/2015

This rule may become effective on:

01/01/2016

Authorized by:

Joseph Miner, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R381. Health, Child Care Center Licensing Committee.

R381-70. Out of School Time Child Care Programs.

R381-70-2. Definitions.

(1) "Accredited College" means a college accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education as a valid accrediting agency.

(2) "ASTM" means American Society for Testing and Materials.

(3) "Body Fluids" means blood, urine, feces, vomit, mucous, and saliva.

(4) "Caregiver" means an employee or volunteer who provides direct care to children.

(5) "CPSC" means the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

(6) "Department" means the Utah Department of Health.

(7) "Designated Play Surface" means a flat surface on a piece of stationary play equipment that a child could stand, walk, sit, or climb on, and that is at least 2" by 2" in size.

(8) "Director" means a person who meets the director qualifications of this rule, and who assumes the day-to-day responsibilities for the facility to be in compliance with Child Care Licensing rules.

[(8)](9) "Direct Supervision" means the caregiver must be able to hear all of the children and must be near enough to intervene when necessary.

[(9)](10) "Emotional Abuse" means behavior that could impair a child's emotional development, such as threatening, intimidating, humiliating, or demeaning a child, constant criticism, rejection, profane language, and inappropriate physical restraint.

[(10)](11) "Group" means the children assigned to one or two caregivers, occupying an individual classroom or an area defined by furniture or another partition within a room.

[(11)](12) "Health Care Provider" means a licensed professional with prescriptive authority, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant.

[(12)](13) "Inaccessible to Children" means either locked, such as in a locked room, cupboard or drawer, or with a child safety lock, or in a location that a child can[ ]not get to.

[(13)](14) "Infectious Disease" means an illness that is capable of being spread from one person to another.

[(14)](15) "Licensee" means the legally responsible person or persons holding a valid Department of Health child care license.

[(15)](16) "Over-the-Counter Medication" means medication that can be purchased without a written prescription from a health care provider. This includes herbal remedies.

[(16)](17) "Parent" means the parent or legal guardian of a child in care.

[(17)](18) "Person" means an individual or a business entity.

[(18)](19) "Physical Abuse" means causing non-accidental physical harm to a child.

[(19)](20) "Play Equipment Platform" means a flat surface on a piece of stationary play equipment intended for more than one user to stand on, and upon which the users can move freely.

[(20)](21) "Protective Barrier" means an enclosing structure such as bars, lattice, or a solid panel, around an elevated play equipment platform that is intended to prevent a child from either accidently or deliberately passing through the barrier.

[(21)](22) "Protective cushioning" means cushioning material that is approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials. For example, sand, pea gravel, engineered wood fibers, shredded tires, or unitary cushioning material, such as rubber mats or poured rubber-like material.

[(22)](23) "Provider" means the licensee or a staff member to whom the licensee has delegated a duty under this rule.

[(23)](24) "Sanitize" means to remove soil and small amounts of certain bacteria from a surface or object with a chemical agent.

[(24)](25) "Sexual Abuse" means abuse as defined in Utah Code, Section 76-5-404.1(2).

[(25)](26) "Sexually Explicit Material" means any depiction of sexually explicit conduct, as defined in Utah Code, Section 76-5a-2(8).

[(26)](27) "Stationary Play Equipment" means equipment such as a climber, a slide, a swing, a merry-go-round, or a spring rocker that is meant to stay in one location when children use it. Stationary play equipment does not include:

(a) a sandbox;

(b) a stationary circular tricycle;

(c) a sensory table; or

(d) a playhouse, if the playhouse has no play equipment, such as a slide, swing, ladder, or climber attached to it.

[(27)](28) "Use Zone" means the area beneath and surrounding a play structure or piece of equipment that is designated for unrestricted movement around the equipment, and onto which a child falling from or exiting the equipment could be expected to land.

[(28)](29) "Volunteer" means a person who provides care to a child but does not receive direct or indirect compensation for doing so. A volunteer is not included in the provider to child ratio, unless the volunteer meets all of the caregiver requirements of this rule.

 

R381-70-6. Outdoor Environment.

(1) There shall be an outdoor play area for children that is safely accessible to children.

(2) The outdoor play area shall have at least 40 square feet of space for each child using the playground at the same time.

(3) The outdoor play area shall accommodate at least 33 percent of the licensed capacity at one time or shall be at least 1600 square feet.

(4) The outdoor play area used by children shall be enclosed within a 4 foot high fence or wall, or a solid natural barrier that is at least 4 feet high.

(5) There shall be no openings greater than 3-1/2 by 6-1/4 inches and less than 9 inches in diameter anywhere in the outdoor play area where children's feet cannot touch the ground.

(6) When in use, the outdoor play area shall be free of animal excrement, harmful plants, harmful objects, harmful substances, and standing water.

(7) The outdoor play area shall have a shaded area to protect children from excessive sun and heat whenever there are children in the outdoor play area.

(8) Children shall have unrestricted access to drinking water whenever the outside temperature is 75 degrees or higher.

(9) All outdoor play equipment and areas shall comply with the following safety standards by the dates specified in Subsection (10) below.

(a) All stationary play equipment used by children shall meet the following requirements for use zones:

(i) If the height of a designated play surface or climbing bar on a piece of equipment, excluding swings, is greater than 30 inches, it shall have use zones that meet the following criteria:

(A) The use zone shall extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions from the perimeter of each piece of equipment.

(B) The use zones of two pieces of equipment that are positioned adjacent to one another may overlap if the designated play surfaces of each structure are no more than 30 inches above the protective surfacing underneath the equipment. In such cases, there shall be a minimum of 6 feet between the adjacent pieces of equipment.

(C) There shall be a minimum use zone of 9 feet between adjacent pieces of equipment if the designated play surface of one or both pieces of equipment is more than 30 inches above the protective surfacing underneath the equipment.

(ii) The use zone in the front and rear of a single-axis swing shall extend a minimum distance of twice the height of the pivot point of the swing, and may not overlap the use zone of any other piece of equipment.

(iii) The use zone for the sides of a single-axis swing shall extend a minimum of 6 feet from the perimeter of the structure, and may overlap the use zone of a separate piece of equipment.

(iv) The use zone of a multi-axis swing shall extend a minimum distance of 6 feet plus the length of the suspending members, and shall never overlap the use zone of another piece of equipment.

(v) The use zone for merry-go-rounds shall never overlap the use zone of another piece of equipment.

(vi) The use zone for spring rockers shall extend a minimum of 6 feet from the at-rest perimeter of the equipment.

(b) Protective cushioning is required in all use zones.

(c) If sand, gravel, or shredded tires are used as protective cushioning, the depth of the material shall meet the CPSC guidelines in Table 1. The provider shall ensure that the material is periodically checked for compaction, and if compacted, shall loosen the material to the depth listed in Table 1. If the material cannot be loosened due to extreme weather conditions, the provider shall not allow children to play on the equipment until the material can be loosened to the required depth.

 

. . . . . . .

 

(d) If shredded wood products are used as protective cushioning, the depth of the shredded wood shall meet the CPSC guidelines in Table 2.

 

. . . . . . .

 

(e) If wood products are used as cushioning material:

(i) the providers shall maintain documentation from the manufacturer verifying that the material meets ASTM Specification F 1292, which is adopted by reference; and

(ii) there shall be adequate drainage under the material.

(f) If a unitary cushioning material, such as rubber mats or poured rubber-like material is used as protective cushioning:

(i) the licensee shall ensure that the material meets the standard established in ASTM Specification F 1292. The provider shall maintain documentation from the manufacturer that the material meets these specifications.

(ii) the licensee shall ensure that the cushioning material is securely installed, so that it cannot become displaced when children jump, run, walk, land, or move on it, or be moved by children picking it up.

(g) Stationary play equipment that has a designated play surface less than 30 inches and that does not have moving parts children sit or stand on, may be placed on grass, but shall not be placed on concrete, asphalt, dirt, or any other hard surface.

(h) Stationary play equipment shall have protective barriers on all play equipment platforms that are over 48 inches above the ground. The bottom of the protective barrier shall be less than 3-1/2 inches above the surface of the platform, and there shall be no openings greater than 3-1/2 inches in the barrier. The top of the protective barrier shall be at least 38 inches above the surface of the platform.

(i) There shall be no openings greater than 3-1/2 by 6-1/4 inches and less than 9 inches in diameter on any piece of stationary play equipment, or within or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(j) There shall be no protrusion or strangulation hazards on, within the use zone of, or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(k) There shall be no crush, shearing, or sharp edge hazards on, within the use zone of, or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(l) There shall be no tripping hazards, such as concrete footings, tree stumps, tree roots, or rocks within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(10) The outdoor play equipment rules specified in Subsection (9) above must be in compliance by the following dates:

(a) by December 31, 2009: R381-70-6(9)(b-f). There is protective cushioning in all existing use zones that meets the requirements for depth and ASTM Standards.

(b) by December 31, 2010:

(i) R381-70-6(9)(g). Stationary play equipment that has a designated play surface less than 30 inches, and that does not have moving parts children sit or stand on, is not placed on concrete, asphalt, dirt, or any other hard surface, unless equipment is installed in concrete or asphalt footings.

(ii) R381-70-6(9)(j). There are no protrusion or strangulation hazards in or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(c) By December 31, 2011: R381-70-6(9)(g). Stationary play equipment that has a designated play surface less than 30 inches, and that does not have moving parts children sit or stand on, is not placed on concrete, asphalt, dirt, or any other hard surface.

(d) By December 31, 2012:

(i) R381-70-6(9)(h). Protective barriers are installed on all stationary play equipment that requires them, and the barriers meet the required specifications.

(ii) R381-70-6(9)(i). There are no openings greater than 3-1/2 by 6-1/4 inches and less than 9 inches in diameter on any piece of stationary play equipment, or within or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(iii) R381-70-6(9)(k). There are no crush, shearing, or sharp edge hazards in or adjacent to the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(e) By December 31, 2013:

(i) R381-70-6(9)(a)(i-vi). All stationary play equipment has use zones that meet the required measurements.

(ii) R381-70-6(9)(l). There are no tripping hazards, such as concrete footings, tree stumps, tree roots, or rocks within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

(11) The provider shall maintain playgrounds and playground equipment to protect children's safety.

 

R381-70-7. Personnel.

(1) The program must have a director who is at least 21 years of age , who has completed the Center Director Training class offered by the Department, and who has one of the following educational credentials:

(a) an associates, bachelors, or graduate degree from an accredited college and successful completion of at least 12 semester credit hours of coursework in childhood development, elementary education, or a related field;

(b) a currently valid national certification such as a Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) issued by the National Child Care Association, a Child Development Associate (CDA) issued by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, or other credential that the licensee demonstrates as equivalent to the Department; or

(c) a currently valid National Administrator Credential (NAC) issued by the National Child Care Association, plus one of the following:

(i) valid proof of successful completion of 12 semester credit hours of coursework in childhood development, elementary education, or a related field; or

(ii) valid proof of completion of the following six Utah Career Ladder courses , or their equivalent, as approved by the Utah Child Care Professional Development Institute[offered through Child Care Resource and Referral]: Child Development: Ages and Stages; Advanced Child Development; School Age Course 1; School Age Course 2; School Age Course 3; and School Age Course 4.

(2) Any new Center director must complete the Department's Center Director Training Class no later than 60 working days after assuming director duties.

[(2)](3) All caregivers shall be at least 18 years of age.

[(3)](4) All assistant caregivers shall be at least 16 years of age, and shall work under the immediate supervision of a caregiver who is at least 18 years of age.

[(4)](5) Assistant caregivers may be included in caregiver to child ratios, but shall not be left unsupervised with children.

[(5)](6) Assistant caregivers shall meet all of the caregiver requirements under this rule, except the caregiver age requirement of 18 years.

[(6)](7) Whenever there are [more than 8] children at the program, there shall be at least one[two] caregiver[s] present who can demonstrate the English literacy skills needed to care for children and respond to emergencies. [If there is only one caregiver present because there are 8 or fewer children at the program, that caregiver must be able to demonstrate the English literacy skills needed to care for children and respond to emergencies.]

[(7)](8) Each new director, assistant director, caregiver, assistant caregiver, and volunteer shall receive orientation training prior to assuming caregiving duties. Orientation training shall be documented and shall include the following topics:

(a) job description and duties;

(b) the program's written policies and procedures;

(c) the program's emergency and disaster plan;

(d) the current child care licensing rules found in Sections R381-70-11 through 22;

(e) introduction and orientation to the children assigned to the caregiver;

(f) a review of the information in the health assessment for each child in their assigned group;

(g) procedure for releasing children to authorized individuals only;

(h) proper clean[]up of body fluids;

(i) signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse, and legal reporting requirements for witnessing or suspicion of abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

(j) obtaining assistance in emergencies, as specified in the program's emergency and disaster plan.

[(8)](9) The program director, assistant director, all caregivers, and substitutes who work an average of 10 hours a week or more, as averaged over any three month period, shall complete a minimum of 2 hours of training for each month during which they are employed, or 20 hours of training each year, based on the program's license date.

(a) Documentation of annual training shall be kept in each caregiver's file, and shall include the name of the training organization, the date, the training topic, and the total hours or minutes of training.

(b) Annual training hours shall include the following topics:

(i) a review of the current child care licensing rules found in Sections R381-70-11 through 22;

(ii) a review of the program's written policies and procedures and emergency and disaster plans, including any updates;

(iii) signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse, and legal reporting requirements for witnessing or suspicion of abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

(iv) principles of child growth and development, including development of the brain; and

(v) positive guidance.

[(9)](10) A minimum of 10 hours of the required annual in-service training shall be face-to-face instruction.

 

R381-70-9. Records.

(1) The provider shall maintain the following general records on-site for review by the Department:

(a) documentation of the previous 12 months of fire and disaster drills as specified in R381-70-10(9) and R381-70-10(11);

(b) current animal vaccination records as required in R381-70-22(3);

(c) a six week record of child attendance, including sign-in and sign-out records;

(d) a current local health department inspection;

(e) a current local fire department inspection;

(f) copy of all covered individuals' background screening cards issued by the Department.[if the licensee has been licensed for one or more years, the most recent "Request for Annual Renewal of CBS/LIS Criminal History Information for Child Care" which includes the licensee and all current providers, caregivers, and volunteers; and:

(g) if the licensee has been licensed for one or more years, the most recent criminal background "Disclosure and Consent Statement" which includes the licensee and all current providers, caregivers, and volunteers.]

(2) The provider shall maintain the following records for each currently enrolled child on-site for review by the Department:

(a) an admission form containing the following information for each child:

(i) name;

(ii) date of birth;

(iii) the parent's name, address, and phone number, including a daytime phone number;

(iv) the names of people authorized by the parent to pick up the child;

(v) the name, address and phone number of a person to be contacted in the event of an emergency if the provider is unable to contact the parent;

(vi) if available, the name, address, and phone number of an out of area/state emergency contact person for the child; and

(vii) current emergency medical treatment and emergency medical transportation releases with the parent's signature;

(b) a current annual health assessment form as required in R381-70-14(5);

(c) a transportation permission form, if the program provides transportation services;

(d) a six week record of medication permission forms, and a six week record of medications actually administered; and

(e) a six week record of incident, accident, and injury reports.

(3) The provider shall ensure that information in children's files is not released without written parental permission.

(4) The provider shall maintain the following records for each staff member on-site for review by the Department:

(a) date of initial employment;

(b) copy of the current background screening card issued by the Department[approved initial "CBS/LIS Consent and Release of Liability for Child Care" form];

(c) a six week record of days and hours worked;

(d) orientation training documentation for caregivers, and for volunteers who work at the program at least once each month;

(e) annual training documentation for all providers and substitutes who work an average of 10 hours a week or more, as averaged over any three month period; and

(f) current first aid and CPR certification, if applicable as required in R381-70-10(2), R381-70-20(5)(d), and R381-70-21(2).

 

R381-70-12. Injury Prevention.

(1) The provider shall ensure that the building, grounds, toys, and equipment are maintained and used in a safe manner to prevent injury to children.

(2) The provider shall ensure that walkways are free of tripping hazards such as unsecured flooring or cords.

(3) Areas accessible to children shall be free of unstable heavy equipment, furniture, or other items that children could pull down on themselves.

(4) The following items shall be inaccessible to children:

(a) firearms, ammunition, and other weapons on the premises. Firearms shall be stored separately from ammunition, in a cabinet or area that is locked with a key or combination lock, unless the use is in accordance with the Utah Concealed Weapons Act, or as otherwise allowed by law;

(b) tobacco, e-cigarettes, e-juice, e-liquids, alcohol, illegal substances, and sexually explicit material;

(c) when in use, portable space heaters, fireplaces, and wood burning stoves;

(d) toxic or hazardous chemicals such as insecticides, lawn products, and flammable materials;

(e) poisonous plants;

(f) matches or cigarette lighters;

(g) open flames; and

(h) razors or similarly sharp blades.

(5) The provider shall store all toxic or hazardous chemicals in a container labeled with its contents.

(6) Hot water accessible to children shall not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

(7) Indoor stationary gross motor play equipment, such as slides and climbers, shall not have a designated play surface that exceeds 5-1/2 feet in height. If such equipment has an elevated designated play surface that is 3 feet or higher it shall be surrounded by cushioning that meets ASTM Standard F1292, in a six foot use zone.

(8) There shall be no trampolines on the premises that are accessible to children in care.

(9) If there is a swimming pool on the premises that is not emptied after each use:

(a) the provider shall ensure that the pool is enclosed within a fence or other solid barrier at least six feet high that is kept locked whenever the pool is not in use;

(b) the provider shall maintain the pool in a safe manner;

(c) the provider shall meet all applicable state and local laws and ordinances related to the operation of a swimming pool; and

(d) If the pool is over four feet deep, there shall be a Red Cross certified life guard on duty, or a lifeguard certified by another agency that the licensee can demonstrate to the Department to be equivalent to Red Cross certification, any time children have access to the pool.

 

R381-70-13. Parent Notification and Child Security.

(1) The provider shall post a copy of the Department's child care guide in the facility for parents' review during business hours.

(2) Parents shall have access to the facility and their child's classroom at all times their child is in care.

(3) The provider shall ensure the following procedures are followed when children arrive at the facility or leave the facility:

(a) Each child must be signed in and out of the facility, including the date and time the child arrives or leaves.

(b) Children may sign themselves in and out of the program only with written permission from the parent.

(c) Persons signing children into the facility shall use identifiers, such as a signature, initials, or electronic code.

(d) Persons signing children out of the facility shall use identifiers, such as a signature, initials, or electronic code, and shall have photo identification if they are unknown to the provider.

(e) Only parents or persons with written authorization from the parent may take any child from the facility. In an emergency, the provider may accept verbal authorization if the provider can confirm the identity of the person giving the verbal authorization and the identity of the person picking up the child.

(4) The provider shall give parents a written report of every incident, accident, or injury involving their child on the day of occurrence. The caregivers involved, the program director or director designee, and the person picking the child up shall sign the report on the day of occurrence. If the child signs him or herself out of the program, a copy of the report shall be sent [mailed ]to the parent.

(5) If a child is injured and the injury appears serious but not life threatening, the provider shall contact the parent immediately, in addition to giving the parent a written report of the injury.

(6) In the case of a life threatening injury to a child, or an injury that poses a threat of the loss of vision, hearing, or a limb, the provider shall contact emergency personnel immediately, before contacting the parent. If the parent cannot be reached after emergency personnel have been contacted, the provider shall attempt to contact the child's emergency contact person.

 

R381-70-15. Child Nutrition.

(1) If food service is provided:

(a) The provider shall ensure that the program's meal service complies with local health department food service regulations.

(b) Foods served by programs not currently participating and in good standing with the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) shall comply with the nutritional requirements of the CACFP. The licensee shall either use standard Department-approved menus, menus provided by the CACFP, or menus approved by a registered dietician. Dietitian approval shall be noted and dated on the menus, and shall be current within the past 5 years.

(c) Programs not currently participating and in good standing with the CACFP shall keep a six week record of foods served at each meal or snack.

(d) The provider shall make available[post] the current week's menu for parent review.

(2) On days when care is provided for three or more hours, the provider shall offer each child in care a meal or snack at least once every three hours.

(3) The provider shall serve children's food on dishes or napkins, except for individual serving size items, such as crackers, if they are placed directly in the children's hands. The provider shall not place food on a bare table.

(4) If any child in care has a food allergy, the provider shall ensure that all caregivers who serve food to children are aware of the allergy, and that children are not served the food or drink they have an allergy or sensitivity to.

(5) The provider shall ensure that food and drink brought in by parents for an individual child's use is labeled with the child's name, and refrigerated if needed, and shall ensure that the food or drink is only consumed by that child.

 

KEY: child care facilities, child care, child care centers, out of school time child care programs

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [ May 1, ]2015

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26-39-203(1)(a)

 

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