General Requirements, School Age Child Care, Gold Seal Quality Care Program, Enforcement  

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    DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

    Family Safety and Preservation Program

    RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

    65C-22.001General Requirements

    65C-22.008School Age Child Care

    65C-22.009Gold Seal Quality Care Program

    65C-22.010Enforcement

    NOTICE OF CHANGE

    Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 45 No. 12, January 17, 2019 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.

    65C-22.001 General Requirements

    Changes have been made to forms CF-FSP 5017 and CF-FSP 1649A, and the Child Care Facility Handbook, incorporated by reference.

    65C-22.008 School Age Child Care

    (1) through (2) No change.

    (3) Exemptions: A school-age child care program is not required to be licensed as long as the program complies with the minimum background screening requirements provided in Sections 402.305 and 402.3055, F.S., and if the program demonstrates that conditions of one of the following criteria outlined in paragraphs (a)-(e), below, are met. A school-age program exempted under paragraph (3)(a), (c), or (d), below, may become licensed if it chooses to meet all of the applicable licensing standards in subsection (5)(4), below.

    (a) through (c) No change.

    (d)  Any program that is not designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider and is providing care for school aged children that is operated by, or in affiliation with a national membership non-profit or not for profit organization that certifies membership organizations, as of February 1, 2017, in at least ten states, that was created for the purpose of providing activities that contribute to the development of good character or good sportsmanship or to the education or cultural development of minors in this state, that charges a membership fee for children and may receive grant funding for services. Such is certified by its national association as complying with the association’s purposes, procedures, minimum standards, and mandatory requirements for all of its before school, after school, or out-of-school time programs. The program must notify the Department prior to operating and annually, thereafter, of any operation of before school, after school, or out-of-school time programs, provide verification of certification and good standing by its national association for all of its before school, after school, or out of school time programs, and complete an annual affidavit attestation for compliance with background screening requirements. The Attestation Affidavit of Compliance, CF-FSP 5218A 5218, (insert date) March 2007, is incorporated by reference and available at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXX.   Failure by a program to comply with such reporting, providing required verifications, and screening requirements shall result in the loss of the program’s exemption from licensure.

    (e) No change.

    (4) School-age exempt providers shall submit prior to operating and upon request of the Department, an Attestation Affidavit of Compliance with background screening requirements, and providers must attest that the program continues to operate in the manner as presented to the Department for the exemption determination.  Prior to any changes in operation, the program shall submit a written notification to the Department outlining the proposed changes for a redetermination. Failure by a program to comply with such reporting, providing required verifications, and screening requirements shall result in the loss of the program’s exemption from licensure.

    (5) School-Age Child Care Standards. School age child care programs must follow the standards found in the School-Age Child Care Licensing Facility Handbook, (insert date), incorporated herein by reference. The handbook may be obtained from the Department’s website at www.myflfamilies.com/childcare or from the following link: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-XXX.

    Changes have also been made to the School Age Child Care Facility Handbook and form CF-FSP 5272, incorporated by reference.

     

    65C-22.009 Gold Seal Quality Care Program

    Changes have been made to form CF-FSP 5386, incorporated by reference.

     

    65C-22.010 Enforcement

    Changes have been made to forms CF-FSP 5316 and CF-FSP 5427, incorporated by reference.