Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
A. The
driver of a vehicle used to transport children must follow required state laws,
including possession of a current valid Colorado driver's license, current
automobile insurance, and meet the requirements of Colorado child passenger
safety laws at sections
42-4-236 and
42-4-237, C.R.S.
B. At least one (1) adult in the vehicle
transporting children must have current Department-approved first aid
certificate and Department-approved CPR certificate. and for all ages of
children. A first aid kit must be available in the vehicle.
C. Any child transported must be properly
restrained in a child restraint system that meets the requirements of the
Colorado child passenger safety laws in sections
42-4-236 and
42-4-237, C.R.S., that require:
1. Children under the age of one (1) years
and weighing less than twenty pounds, must ride the back seat of the vehicle,
in a rear-facing child restraint system, according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
2. Children ages one
(1) to four (4) years and who weigh twenty (20) to forty (40) pounds must be
properly restrained in a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint system,
according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Children who are under eight (8) years of
age and who are being transported, shall be properly restrained in a child
restraint system, according to manufacturer's instructions.
4. Children who are at least eight (8) years
of age but less than sixteen(16) years of age who are being transported, shall
be properly restrained in a safety belt or child restraint system according to
manufacturer's instructions.
D. When any vehicle is used by the family
child care home to transport children in care, the following requirements must
be met:
1. Two (2) or more children must never
be restrained in one (1) seat belt or child restraint system;
2. It is the responsibility of the driver
transporting children to ensure that children are provided with, and that they
properly use, a child restraint system or safety belt system;
3. Children who meet the requirements to be
restrained in a safety belt must be instructed and monitored to keep the seat
belt properly fastened and adjusted;
4. Children, who are appropriately placed in
a safety belt system according to state law, must be properly secured by the
safety belt system. The shoulder belt must never be placed behind the back or
under the arm. The lap belt must be secured low and tight across the upper
thighs;
5. Children under thirteen
(13) years of age must never be transported in the front seat of a
vehicle;
6. Children must never be
left alone in a vehicle;
7.
Children must be loaded and unloaded safely and out of the path of moving
vehicles;
8. The total number of
passengers being transported shall never exceed the vehicle manufacturer's
specifications;
9. The provider
cannot transport more children than any vehicle can safely accommodate with
child restraint systems and seat belts that are properly installed in the
vehicle;
10. The seats of the
vehicle must be constructed and installed according to the manufacturer's
specifications;
11. Modifications
to vehicles including, but not limited to, the addition of seats and seat belts
must be completed by the manufacturer or an authorized representative of the
manufacturer. Documentation of such modifications must be available for review
by the Department;
12. The vehicle
must be enclosed and have door locks in proper working order;
13. The vehicle must be kept in satisfactory
condition to assure the safety of occupants. Vehicle tires, brakes, and lights
must meet safety standards set by the Colorado Department of Revenue, Motor
Vehicle Division (section
42-4-236, C.R.S.); and
14. At a large family child care home, there
must be at least one (1) adult supervisor, in addition to the driver, when nine
(9) to twelve (12) children are being transported in the vehicle.
E. The primary provider must
obtain written permission from the parent or guardian for transportation of the
child.
F. If the family child care
home provides transportation to and from care, the primary provider, applicant
2, equally qualified provider, qualified substitute, or staff member must
supervise the child between the vehicle and the child's home or another home
authorized by the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) until the child is safely in
the care of another adult.
G. If
the family child care home provides transportation to and or from care,
children remaining at the family child care home must be supervised by the
primary provider, applicant 2, an equally qualified provider, qualified
substitute, or staff member.
H.
Agreement must be made annually between the provider and parents or guardians
on transportation arrangements for school age children (e.g. walking, riding a
bicycle, bus, or traveling in a vehicle) to and from the family child care
home. It is the provider's responsibility to ensure the child arrives to the
destination at agreed upon time.
