Alabama Administrative Code
Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Chapter 660-5-20 - HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES - REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM
Section 660-5-20-.05 - Transportation
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 660-5-20-.05
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 5, February 29, 2024
NOTE: THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DOES NOT INSPECT AWAY-FROM-FACILITY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SWIMMING, TRANSPORTATION, OR ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE FACILITY SHALL ASSUME FULL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM THE FACILITY.
(1) Transportation Provided by the Facility.
(a) IF THE FACILITY PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION
OR ANY ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM THE FACILITY, A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SIGNED BY EACH
CHILD'S PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S), SHALL BE ON FILE IN THE FACILITY PRIOR TO THE
CHILD'S PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ACTIVITIES. THE STATEMENT SHALL INDICATE THAT THE
PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) HAS/HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES DOES NOT INSPECT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED AWAY FROM THE FACILITY AND THAT
THE FACILITY ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES.
(b) The facility shall be responsible for
each child who is using transportation contracted for, arranged by, or provided
by the facility. For purposes of these regulations, transportation includes the
use of vehicles as well as walking to and from away-from-the-facility
activities.
(c) Transportation
checklists.
1. Checklists shall be used to
account for the loading and unloading of each child from the vehicle at every
location. Checklists shall also be used to account for each child during
activities that include walking to and from the facility.
2. The facility shall designate the staff
person responsible for completing the checklist. The designated staff person
shall sign (initials are not acceptable) the checklist when it has been
completed.
3. The driver of the
vehicle shall sign (initials are not acceptable) the completed checklist at
each location, indicating he or she has checked each seat in the vehicle at
each location to verify that no child is left on the vehicle.
4. Completed checklists shall be kept on file
in the facility for the current year plus two additional years.
(d) When the facility provides
transportation to and from the home or another designated location, the
facility shall be responsible for picking the child up at the designated
location and delivering the child to the care of the designated
person.
(e) Supervision of children
in facility vehicles.
1. In addition to the
driver, staff shall be provided to meet required staff-child ratios for
children younger than lawful school age. NOTE: The driver of the vehicle shall
not be counted in the required staff-child ratio when children younger than
lawful school age are transported.
2. For children of lawful school age and
older, fewer than fifteen (15) children may be transported with only the driver
of the vehicle, provided the driver meets child care worker
qualifications.
3. If fifteen (15)
or more children of lawful school age are transported, at least one staff
person in addition to the driver shall be required.
4. If thirty (30) or more children of lawful
school age are transported, at least two (2) staff persons in addition to the
driver shall be required.
5. No
child shall be left in a vehicle without adult supervision at any
time.
6. A staff person shall
accompany each child younger than 2½ years of age from the vehicle to
the care of the designated person.
7. A staff person shall visually supervise
each child 2½ years of age and older from the vehicle to the care of a
designated person.
8. The driver
shall check each seat of the vehicle at each location to verify that no child
is left on the vehicle.
(f) Safety precautions in all vehicles used
and operated by the facility in transporting children.
1. Stationary seating space for each child
shall be provided, and no child shall sit on the floor. Children shall remain
seated while the vehicle is in motion.
2. Doors shall be locked at all times when
the vehicle is moving.
3. Children
shall not be transported in the front seat of any vehicle with a passenger side
air bag.
4. The driver of the
vehicle and all passengers shall be secured in a passenger restraint system at
all times when the vehicle is moving.
5. Each child shall be properly secured using
an aftermarket or integrated child passenger restraint system meeting
applicable state and federal motor vehicle safety standards. Each child
passenger restraint system shall be appropriate for the age and size of the
child.
(i) Each child younger than one (1)
year of age or weighing less than twenty (20) pounds shall be secured in an
infant only or a convertible seat used in a rear facing position which is
properly anchored to the vehicle, installed and used according to the
manufacturer's instructions and maintained in good condition.
(ii) Each child younger than five (5) years
of age or weighing less than 40 pounds shall be properly secured in a
convertible seat in the forward facing position or in a forward facing seat
which is properly anchored to the vehicle, installed and used according to the
manufacturer's instructions and maintained in good condition.
(iii) Each child younger than six (6) years
of age shall be properly secured in a booster seat which is properly anchored
to the vehicle, installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions
and maintained in good condition.
(iv) Each child six (6) years of age and
older, the driver, and each adult passenger shall be secured in an individual
seat belt, which is properly anchored to the vehicle.
(g) Vehicle safety check.
1. A safety check shall be done annually and
signed and dated by a mechanic, on all vehicles regularly used by the facility
to transport children.
2. A copy of
the safety check shall be on file in the facility. The safety check shall show
that the following items are operating in a safe condition: brakes; tires;
lights (head, signal, brake, tail); windshield wipers; steering; and exhaust
system; ventilation and heating system; and passenger restraint
systems.
(2) Transportation Provided by Parent(s)/Guardian(s) or Other Designated Person(s)
(a) Each child being transported by
parent(s)/guardian(s) or other designated person(s) shall be accompanied into
and out of the facility by the parent, guardian, or other person.
(b) The facility shall require the parent(s)/
guardian(s) or other person(s) designated by the parent(s)/ guardian(s) to sign
(signature required, initials not acceptable) each child in/out at each
arrival/departure to the facility, indicating the time of arrival/departure. An
exception to the written signature will allow the use of the Biometric ID for
parent(s)/guardian(s). The Biometric ID System will measure some unique aspect
of the individual such as but not limited to fingerprint and/or eye-iris
recognition.
(c) If any child walks
to the facility from school or another designated location, or is transported
to/from the facility by school bus, facility staff shall sign (signature
required, initials not acceptable) each child in upon arrival, indicating time
of arrival.
(d) The facility shall
require written authorization from a child's parent(s)/guardian(s) to release a
child to any person other than the parent(s)/guardian(s) or persons designated
on the child's preadmission form.
(e) The facility shall require unfamiliar
authorized persons to show photographic identification when releasing a
child.
Authors: Dawn Owens/Tonya Swanner
Statutory Authority: Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C.S. §§9857 et seq.).
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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