The Department of Children and Families has issued an order disposing of the petition for variance of section 3.5.1E and F of the Child Care Facility Handbook, which is incorporated by refence in Rule 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C., filed by Kids R Kids ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Family Safety and Preservation Program

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

65C-22.001General Requirements

The Department of Children and Families hereby gives notice: The Department of Children and Families has issued an order disposing of the petition for variance of section 3.5.1E and F of the Child Care Facility Handbook, which is incorporated by refence in subsection 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C., filed by Kids R Kids Bellalago, Case No., 20-016W on August 17, 2020. The Notice of Variance and Waivers was published in Volume 46, No. 142, F.A.R., on July 22, 2020. Section 3.5.1E of the Child Care Facility Handbook requires that the facility’s outdoor play area must be fenced as required by local ordinances to prevent access by children to all water hazards within or adjacent to outdoor play areas, such as pools, ditches, retention ponds, and fish ponds. Section 3.5.1F of the Children Care Facility Handbook required in pertinent part that fencing, including gates, must be continuous and must not have gaps or opening larger than 3 ½ inches that would allow children to exit the outdoor play area. Subsection 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C., states in pertinent part that child care programs must follow the standards found in the “Child Care Facility Handbook,” October 2017, incorporated herein by reference. The following is a summary of the agency’s disposition of the petition: The petition for variance of section 3.5.1E and F of the Child Care Facility Handbook, which is incorporated by reference in subsection 65C-22.001(6), F.A.C, was granted as Petitioner provided sufficient details that justified a substantial hardship.

A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting: the Agency Clerk in writing at Agency Clerk, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Children and Families, 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 2, Room 204, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700, by telephone at [phone] or via email to [e-mail].