63D-13.0061. Safety and Administration

(1) Safety and welfare standards of facilities shall incorporate the following:

(a) All indoor areas and attached buildings shall be clean, neat, and well maintained. No graffiti shall be allowed to remain on walls, doors, or windows.

(b) Weekly sanitation and safety inspections of all internal and external areas and equipment shall be conducted to ensure that the facility is clean and in good repair. Inspections shall be documented in writing.

(c) To help ensure that the facility is clean and in good repair a maintenance and housekeeping plan shall be developed and employed.

(d) For facilities that operate during evening hours, the facility perimeter and grounds shall be lit.

(e) Separate bathroom facilities shall be provided for males and females. For every 30 males, and for every 30 females, there shall be at least one operable toilet and washbasin with hot and cold running water and antibacterial soap.

(f) Space shall be available for private counseling, group meetings, and classrooms.

(2) Facilities shall have a comprehensive safety regimen that includes fire prevention.

(a) Smoking shall not be permitted in the facility. Any designated smoking areas shall be outside of the facility and clearly marked.

(b) A fire alarm and automatic detection system is required. All facility staff and youth shall be trained in the operation of the alarm system.

(c) Fire protection equipment shall be available at strategic locations throughout the facility and shall be checked quarterly. All facility staff and youth shall be trained in the proper operation and use of available equipment.

(d) Fire drill procedures shall include the following:

1. Unannounced fire drills conducted at least monthly.

2. Drills shall be conducted under varied conditions and across all shifts.

3. All fire drills shall be documented in the Fire Safety Log.

4. A Fire Safety Log shall be kept in the facility and shall contain a record of annual fire safety inspections, a summary of all deficiencies found by fire officials, a record of corrections, and the results of periodic fire safety inspections and equipment checks.

(3) An evacuation plan shall specify routes of evacuation and provisions for medical care or hospital transportation for youth and facility staff.

(a) The evacuation plan shall provide that the facility director or designee in charge shall make the decision to evacuate the facility, and the notice to evacuate shall be clearly communicated.

(b) Facility staff in each area shall help control the exit of youth and visitors in an orderly manner.

(c) Facility staff shall be alerted to the location of available alarm boxes and outside telephones.

(d) A written emergency disaster plan shall be reviewed annually, updated as needed, and detail the procedures for fire, severe weather, hurricane and tornado warnings, flooding, youth riots, hostage taking, chemical spills and bomb threats.

(e) A current listing of telephone numbers for local emergency departments shall be posted next to every facility telephone.

(4) Facilities that allow youth to participate in water related recreational activities shall have a water safety plan. The facility shall provide one certified lifeguard for every eight (8) participating youth. Youth shall take a swim test prior to any swimming activities.

(5) The facility shall provide for the prompt notification of a youth’s parent or guardian in cases of serious illness, injury, or death.

(6) Facilities providing meals shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) The food service and dining area shall be clean and well maintained.

(b) The facility must provide youth special diets when prescribed for health reasons or to accommodate religious beliefs.

(c) There shall be a single menu for facility staff and youth.

(d) The facility must not withhold food as a disciplinary measure.

(7) Facilities shall provide daily transportation to and from the facility or shall arrange for such transportation.

(a) All facility vehicles that transport youth shall be kept in safe and sound condition.

(b) Facility staff transporting youth shall have current, valid driver’s licenses.

(c) Facility vehicles shall have current insurance and automobile registration.

(d) A youth committed or otherwise assigned to a non-residential facility cannot be denied services or penalized because of the lack of transportation.

(e) All vehicles shall be locked when not in use.

(f) Youth and staff shall wear seat belts while the vehicle is in operation.

(8) Facilities shall meet the following standards of administration and operation:

(a) The facility director is responsible for maintaining information on the facility and reporting to the department.

(b) Monthly reports shall be submitted to the department detailing incidents, and population data.

(c) Youth listed on the facility roster shall match the census report in the JJIS.

(d) Statistical information shall be maintained, including monthly data on admissions, releases, transfers, absconds, abuse reports, medical and mental health emergencies, incidents, personnel actions, volunteer hours and average length of stay.

(e) The facility shall comply with the department’s CCC incident reporting requirements.

(f) A daily facility log shall be maintained for facility staff to record significant facility activities, events, and incidents. Special attention shall be given to entries impacting the safety and security of the facility, which shall be highlighted to ensure attention.

1. The facility director shall review the log on a bi-weekly basis, acting where appropriate. Any action taken shall be documented in the log.

2. Log entries shall be brief, and legibly written in ink. Recording errors shall be struck through with a single line, with void written by the error and the correction initialed by facility staff.

3. Each log entry shall provide the following information:

a. Date and time of incident;

b. Name of the youth and facility staff involved;

c. Brief statement of pertinent information; and

d. Name of the person making the entry with the date, time of entry and signature.

(g) Facility staff shall comply with the training requirements as outlined in Chapter 63H-1, F.A.C. (Protective Action Response), and Chapter 63H-2, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 985.64, 985.601 FS. Law Implemented 985.03, 985.601 FS. History–New 5-4-20.