MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Lott, Staples, Fillingane, Carlton, Wells-Smith, Moore, Ellington, Mayhall
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-20-5, 43-20-8, 43-20-11, 43-20-12, 43-20-14, 43-20-53, 43-20-57 AND 43-20-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELATING TO THE LICENSURE OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL PERFORM ALL OF THE DUTIES RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES THAT WERE FORMERLY PERFORMED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO REPEAL SECTIONS 43-20-7 AND 43-20-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATE AN ADVISORY COUNCIL TO ASSIST THE LICENSING AGENCY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE FACILITY STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 43-20-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-5. (1) From and after July 1, 2005, the powers and duties of the State Department of Health relating to the licensure of child care facilities under this chapter shall be transferred to the State Department of Human Services. All records, property, funds, other assets and personnel of the Child Care Licensure Unit and the Child Care Licensure Program shall be transferred to the Department of Human Services. The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services may assign to the appropriate offices such powers and duties deemed appropriate to carry out the lawful functions of the department under this chapter.
(2) When used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Child care facility" means a place that provides shelter and personal care for six (6) or more children who are not related within the third degree computed according to the civil law to the operator and who are under thirteen (13) years of age, for any part of the twenty-four-hour day, whether that place is organized or operated for profit or not. The term "child care facility" includes day nurseries, day care centers and any other facility that falls within the scope of the definitions set forth in this paragraph, regardless of auspices. Exemptions from the provisions of this chapter include:
(i) Child care facilities that operate for no more than two (2) days a week, whose primary purpose is to provide respite for the caregiver or temporary care during other scheduled or related activities and organized programs that operate for three (3) or fewer weeks per year such as, but not limited to, vacation bible schools and scout day camps.
(ii) Any child residential home as defined in, and in compliance with the provisions of, Section 43-16-3(b) et seq.
(iii) 1. Any elementary, including kindergarten, and/or secondary school system, accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Mississippi Private School Education Association, the American Association of Christian Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and any Head Start program operating in conjunction with an elementary school system, whether it is public, private or parochial, whose primary purpose is a structured school or school readiness program.
2. Accreditation, for the purpose of exemption from the provisions of this chapter, means: a. receipt by any school or school system of full accreditation from an accrediting entity listed in item 1 of this subparagraph (iii), or b. proof of application by the school or school system for accreditation status from the accrediting entity. Proof of application for accreditation status shall include, but not be limited to, a copy of the applicant's completed application for accreditation filed with the licensing agency and a letter or other authenticating documentation from a signatory authority with the accrediting entity that the application for accreditation has been received and that the applicant is currently under consideration or review for full accreditation status by the accrediting entity. An exemption for a nonaccredited applicant under this item 2 shall be for a maximum of one (1) year from the receipt date by the licensing agency of the completed documentation for proof of application for accreditation status. Failure to receive full accreditation by the end of the one-year exemption period for a nonaccredited applicant shall result in the nonaccredited applicant no longer remaining exempt from the provisions of this chapter at the end of the one-year period. However, if full accreditation is not received by the end of the one-year exemption period, the State Department of Human Services, in its discretion, may extend the exemption period for any nonaccredited applicant for periods of six (6) months, with the total extension not to exceed one (1) year. During any such extension periods, the department shall have the authority to enforce child care facility licensure provisions relating to the health and safety of the children in the school or school system. If a nonaccredited applicant fails to receive full accreditation by the end of all extended exemption periods, the applicant shall no longer remain exempt from the provisions of this chapter at the end of the extended exemption periods. This item 2 shall stand repealed on July 1, 2006.
(iv) Any membership organization affiliated with a national organization that charges only a nominal annual membership fee, does not receive monthly, weekly or daily payments for services, and is certified by its national association as being in compliance with the association's minimum standards and procedures including, but not limited to, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the YMCA.
(v) Any family child care home as defined in Section 43-20-53(a) et seq.
All other preschool child care programs and/or extended day school programs must meet requirements set forth in this chapter.
(b) "Health" means that condition of being sound in mind and body and encompasses an individual's physical, mental and emotional welfare.
(c) "Safety" means that condition of being protected from hurt, injury or loss.
(d) "Person" means any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association.
(e) "Operator" means any person, acting individually or jointly with another person or persons, who establishes, owns, operates, conducts or maintains a child care facility. The child care facility license shall be issued in the name of the operator, or, if there is more than one (1) operator, in the name of one (1) of the operators. If there is more than one (1) operator, all statutory and regulatory provisions concerning the background checks of operators shall be equally applied to all operators of a facility including, but not limited to, a spouse who jointly owns, operates or maintains the child care facility regardless of which particular person is named on the license.
(f) "Personal care" means assistance rendered by personnel of the child care facility in performing one or more of the activities of daily living which includes, but is not limited to, the feeding, personal grooming, supervising and dressing of children placed in the child care facility.
(g) "Licensing agency" means the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
(h) "Caregiver" means any person who provides direct care, supervision or guidance to children in a child care facility, regardless of title or occupation.
SECTION 2. Section 43-20-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-8. (1) The licensing agency shall have powers and duties as set forth below, in addition to other duties prescribed under this chapter:
(a) Promulgate rules and regulations concerning the licensing and regulation of child care facilities as defined in Section 43-20-5;
(b) Have the authority to issue, deny, suspend, revoke, restrict or otherwise take disciplinary action against licensees as provided for in this chapter;
(c) Set and collect fees and penalties as provided for in this chapter; and
(d) Have such other powers as may be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Child care facilities shall assure that parents have welcome access to the child care facility at all times.
(3) Each child care facility shall develop and maintain a current list of contact persons for each child provided care by that facility. An agreement may be made between the child care facility and the child's parent, guardian or contact person at the time of registration to inform the parent, guardian or contact person if the child does not arrive at the facility within a reasonable time.
(4) Child care facilities shall require that, for any current or prospective caregiver, current criminal records, background checks and current child abuse registry checks are obtained. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the FBI for a national criminal history record check.
(5) The licensing agency shall require to be performed a criminal records background check and a child abuse registry check for all operators of a child care facility and any person living in a residence used for child care. The Department of Human Services shall have the authority to disclose * * * any potential applicant whose name is listed on the Child Abuse Central Registry or has a pending administrative review. That information shall remain confidential by all parties. In order to determine the applicant's suitability for employment, the applicant shall be fingerprinted. If no disqualifying record is identified at the state level, the fingerprints shall be forwarded by the Department of Public Safety to the FBI for a national criminal history record check.
(6) The licensing agency shall have the authority to exclude a particular crime or crimes or a substantiated finding of child abuse and/or neglect as disqualifying individuals or entities for prospective or current employment or licensure.
(7) The licensing agency and its agents, officers, employees, attorneys and representatives shall not be held civilly liable for any findings, recommendations or actions taken under this section.
(8) All fees incurred in compliance with this section shall be borne by the child care facility. The licensing agency is authorized to charge a fee that includes the amount required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the national criminal history record check in compliance with the Child Protection Act of 1993, as amended, and any necessary costs incurred by the licensing agency for the handling and administration of the criminal history background checks.
SECTION 3. Section 43-20-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-11. An application for a license under this chapter shall be made to the licensing agency upon forms provided by it, and shall contain such information as the licensing agency may reasonably require. Each application for a license shall be accompanied by a license fee not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), which shall be paid to the licensing agency. Licenses shall be granted to applicants upon the filing of properly completed application forms, accompanied by payment of the said license fee, and a certificate of inspection and approval by the fire department of the municipality or other political subdivision in which the facility is located, and by a certificate of inspection and approval by the health department of the county in which the facility is located, and approval by the licensing agency; except that if no fire department exists where the facility is located, the State Fire Marshal shall certify as to the inspection for safety from fire hazards. Saidfire, county health department and licensing agency inspections and approvals shall be based upon regulations promulgated by the licensing agency * * *.
Each license shall be issued only for the premises and person or persons named in the application and shall not be transferable or assignable except with the written approval of the licensing agency. Licenses shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises.
No governmental entity or agency shall be required to pay the fee or fees set forth in this section.
SECTION 4. Section 43-20-12, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-12. All fees collected by the Mississippi Department of Human Services under this chapter and any penalties collected by the board for violations of this chapter shall be deposited in the State General Fund * * *.
SECTION 5. Section 43-20-14, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-14. (1) The licensing agency may deny a license or refuse to renew a license for any of the reasons set forth in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) Before the licensing agency may deny or refuse to renew, the applicant or person named on the license shall be entitled to a hearing in order to show cause why the license should not be denied or should be renewed.
(3) The licensing agency may suspend, revoke or restrict the license of any child care facility upon one or more of the following grounds:
(a) Fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts;
(b) Conviction of an operator for any crime if the licensing agency finds that the act or acts for which the operator was convicted could have a detrimental effect on children cared for by any child care facility;
(c) Violation of any of the provisions of this act or of the regulations governing the licensing and regulation of child care facilities promulgated by the licensing agency;
(d) Any conduct, or failure to act, that is found or determined by the licensing agency to threaten the health or safety of children at the facility;
(e) Failure by the child care facility to comply with the provisions of Section 43-20-8(3) regarding background checks of caregivers; and
(f) Information received by the licensing agency as a result of the criminal records background check and the child abuse registry check on all operators under Section 43-20-8.
(4) Before the licensing agency may suspend, revoke or restrict the license of any facility, any licensee affected by that decision of the licensing agency shall be entitled to a hearing in which the licensee may show cause why the license should not be suspended, revoked or restricted.
(5) Any licensee who disagrees with or is aggrieved by a decision of the Mississippi State Department of Human Services in regard to the denial, refusal to renew, suspension, revocation or restriction of the license of the licensee, may appeal to the chancery court of the county in which the facility is located. The appeal shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the licensee receives written notice of the final administrative action by the Mississippi State Department of Human Services as to the suspension, revocation or restriction of the license of the licensee.
SECTION 6. Section 43-20-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-53. As used in Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65:
(a) "Family child care home" means any residential facility occupied by the operator where five (5) or fewer children who are not related within the third degree computed according to the civil law to the provider and who are under the age of thirteen (13) years of age are provided care for any part of the twenty-four-hour day.
(b) "Registering agency" means the Mississippi State Department of Human Services.
(c) "Provider" means the person responsible for the care of children.
SECTION 7. Section 43-20-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-57. (1) No person shall knowingly maintain a family child care home if, in such family child care home, there resides, works or regularly volunteers any person who:
(a) (i) Has a felony conviction for a crime against persons;
(ii) Has a felony conviction under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act;
(iii) Has a conviction for a crime of child abuse or neglect;
(iv) Has a conviction for any sex offense as defined in Section 45-33-23, Mississippi Code of 1972; or
(v) Any other offense committed in another jurisdiction or any federal offense which, if committed in this state, would be deemed to be such a crime without regard to its designation elsewhere;
(b) Has been adjudicated a juvenile offender because of having committed an act which if done by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony and which is a crime against persons;
(c) Has had a child declared in a court order in this or any other state to be deprived or a child in need of care based on an allegation of physical, mental or emotional abuse or neglect or sexual abuse;
(d) Has had parental rights terminated pursuant to Section 93-15-101 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972; or
(e) Has an infectious or contagious disease, as defined by the State Department of Health pursuant to Section 41-23-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.
(2) No person shall maintain a family child care home if such person has been found to be a disabled person in need of a guardian or conservator, or both.
(3) Any person who resides in the home and who has been found to be a disabled person in need of a guardian or conservator, or both, shall be included in the total number of children allowed in care.
(4) In accordance with the provision of this subsection (4), the State Department of Human Services shall have access to any court orders or adjudications of any court of record, any records of such orders or adjudications, criminal history record information in the possession of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol or court of this state concerning persons working, regularly volunteering or residing in a family child care home. The department shall have access to these records for the purpose of determining whether or not the home meets the requirements of Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65.
(5) No family child care home or its employees shall be liable for civil damages to any person refused employment or discharged from employment by reason of such home's compliance with the provisions of this section if such home acts in good faith to comply with this section.
SECTION 8. Section 43-20-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
43-20-59. (1) Any person maintaining a family child care home may register such home with the State Department of Human Services on forms provided by the department.
(2) A certificate of registration shall be issued to the applicant for registration who (a) attests to the safety of the home for the care of children, (b) submits a fee of Five Dollars ($5.00) payable to the department, and (c) certifies that no person described in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of Section 43-20-57(1) resides, works or volunteers in the family child care home.
(3) The department shall furnish each applicant for registration a family child care home safety evaluation form to be completed by the applicant and submitted with the registration application.
(4) The certificate of registration shall be renewed annually in the same manner provided for in this section.
(5) A certificate of registration shall be in force for one (1) year after the date of issuance unless revoked pursuant to Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65. The certificate shall specify that the registrant may operate a family child care home for five (5) or fewer children. This section shall not be construed to limit the right of the department to enter a registered family child care home for the purpose of assessing compliance with Sections 43-20-51 through 43-20-65 after receiving a complaint against the registrant of such home or in conducting a periodic routine inspection.
(6) The department shall adopt rules and regulations to implement the registration provisions.
SECTION 9. Sections 43-20-7 and 43-20-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, which create an Advisory Council to assist the licensing agency in the development of child care facility standards and regulations, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.