Chapter 2010-114, section 23, Laws of Florida, amended section 409.175(2)(k), Florida Statutes, to require summer camp employees to complete level 2 screening. Since enactment, there has been public concern with summer camp compliance with the law. ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Family Safety and Preservation Program

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
65C-39.001Summer Camp Background Screening Requirements
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Chapter 2010-114, section 23, Laws of Florida, amended Section 409.175(2)(k), Florida Statutes, to require summer camp employees to complete level 2 screening. Since enactment, there has been public concern with summer camp compliance with the law. The Department has the authority to write rule under s. 409.175, F. S. The development of this rule is intended to help ensure summer camp personnel complete required screening. The new rule will require summer camp operators to utilize a web portal the Department will provide at no charge. This will provide a data base system from which information is easily retrievable and trackable.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: The subject area addressed in this rule development is background screening for Summer Camp Programs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 409.175 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Chapter 2010-114, section 23, Laws of Florida.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: Workshop 1: May 16, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and
Workshop 2: May 22, 2013, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
PLACE: Workshop 1: Department of Children and Families, 1000 West Tharpe Street, Community Room, Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Workshop 2: Palm Beach County Health Department, 800 Clematis Street, Auditorium 1st Floor, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Dinah Gallon, Child Care Program, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 6, 3rd Floor, Room 388, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700 or call [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT IS: Dinah Gallon, Child Care Program, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 6, 3rd Floor, Room 388, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700 or call [phone]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

RULE CHAPTER 65C-39, Summer Camp Program Standards

65C-39.001 Summer Camp Background Screening Requirements.

(1) Definitions.

The following terms used in this rule are defined in Section 409.175, F.S.: summer day camp; summer 24-hour camp; screening; personnel.

(2) Screening Requirements.

(a) Summer camps and summer 24-hour camps must register with the department through the Summer Camp Information link located at www.myflorida.com/childcare for the purpose of tracking and managing screening requirements under Section 409.175, F.S.

(b) Screening is required for all personnel who work in summer day camps or summer 24-hour camps when children are present.

(c) Personnel who experience a break in service of 90 days or more must be rescreened in accordance with level 2 screening in Chapter 435, Florida Statutes.

(d) A five-year level 2 rescreening is required for all personnel who work in summer day camps or summer 24-hour camps when children are present.

(3) Screening Process. Summer Camps and summer 24-hour camps owners and/or operator must utilize the Department’s background screening website http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/backgroundscreening/ to obtain tracking information; the listing of FDLE registered live scan vendors, and background screening clearance results.

(a) Summer day camps and summer 24-hour camps must maintain personnel records on-site, and such records must be available for department inspection during the hours of operation. Camps must provide copies of screening documentation to the department upon request.

(b) Owners and/or operators of summer day camps or summer 24-hour camps must utilize the department’s background screening web portal to obtain screening results for personnel and must maintain a copy of the results in the personnel record.

(c) The department will enforce compliance with screening requirements as provided in section 409.175, F.S.

(4) Department enforcement of screening requirements.

(a) Summer day camps and summer 24-hour camps must maintain personnel records on-site, and such records must be available for department inspection during the hours of operation. Camps must provide copies of screening documentation to the department upon request.

(b) Owners and/or operators of summer day camps or summer 24-hour camps must utilize the department’s background screening web portal to obtain screening results for personnel and must maintain a copy of the results in the personnel record.

(c) The department will enforce compliance with screening requirements as provided in Section 409.175, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 409.175 FS. Law Implemented 409.175 FS. History–New________.