(a) The department
shall verify that the exempt provider meets exemptions from sections
346-161
or
346-171,
HRS, in accordance with section
346-152,
HRS.
(b) An exempt provider shall
be authorized to care for children whose families receive child care payments
under this chapter when all requirements in subchapter 3, 4, and 5 are
met.
(c) An exempt provider shall:
(1) Be eighteen years old or older;
(2) Afford caretakers unlimited access to
their children, including written records concerning the caretakers' children,
during normal hours of provider operation and whenever children are in the care
of the provider;
(3) Operate as an
exempt provider in accordance with section
346-152,
HRS;
(4) Complete background checks
in accordance with section 17-798.3-89 and chapter 17-801;
(5) Have no known history of physical,
psychological or psychiatric problems, or background, in accordance with
chapter 17-801 that may adversely affect or interfere with the care of
children;
(6) Be free of physical
or psychological conditions which may impair or limit the provider's ability to
provide child care;
(7)
Satisfactorily complete and provide written evidence to the department to show
completion of trainings as required by the department when caring for an
eligible child under this chapter which includes but is not limited to:
(A) An initial training in health and safety
standards that is approved by the department prior to caring for an eligible
child;
(B) Safe sleep training that
is approved by the department on an annual basis when the provider starts
caring for an eligible child who is less than one year of age, until no
eligible children in care are less than one year of age; and
(C) A minimum of eight hours of training
within one year of completion of the initial training as described in
subparagraph (A), and completed annually thereafter, as prescribed by the
department in at least two of the following topic areas:
(i) Physical care of the young
child;
(ii) Care of the sick
child;
(iii) Child
nutrition;
(iv) Child growth and
development;
(v) Children with
special needs;
(vi) Learning
activities and play;
(vii) Family
engagement;
(viii) Managing
challenging behaviors;
(ix)
Prevention of child maltreatment and abuse;
(x) First aid and child cardiopulmonary
resuscitation;
(xi) Physical
environment;
(xii) Health and
safety;
(xiii)Child care business
or program management; or
(xiv)
Community resources; and
(xv)
Training under section 17-798.3-51(c)(7)(B), when applicable; provided that an
exempt provider who is the child's grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling
living in a separate residence, aunt, or uncle is not subject to this
paragraph;
(8) Submit to initial and annual monitoring
inspections where care is being provided, including in-home care, to ensure
compliance with the requirements of subchapters 4 and 5 as follows:
(A) The department shall assess the
qualifications of exempt providers and inspect the premises.
(B) All exempt providers shall cooperate with
the department by providing access to the premises, records, staff, and
household members.
(C) Failure to
comply with reasonable requests may constitute grounds for the department to
determine that the provider is not authorized to care for a child whose family
unit receives child care payments; provided that an exempt provider who is the
child's grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling living in a separate residence,
aunt, or uncle is not subject to this paragraph;
(9) Comply with section
17-798.3-66;
(10) Agree to report
to the department, within one working day of occurrence, the death of a child
or staff, and any illness or injury received at the provider that results in a
child's hospitalization or emergency treatment;
(11) Report to the department within ten
calendar days of occurrence, any of the following:
(A) Change in contact telephone
number;
(B) Change in the address
where the child care is being conducted; or
(C) Change in the staff or household members
where care is being conducted;
(12) Agree to notify all parents of children
in care when there are deficiencies in meeting requirements under subchapters
3, 4, or 5;
(13) Report any
suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with section
350-1.1, HRS;
(14) Have a written policy of expulsion of
children which includes the following:
(A)
The conditions under which a child may be expelled, if applicable;
(B) Sufficient timeframe before expulsion
occurs to enable parents to make alternative child care arrangements or to take
the necessary action to allow the child to remain enrolled, except as specified
in subparagraph (C);
(C) Conditions
that may warrant immediate expulsion such as imminent danger to the health,
welfare, or safety of the children or staff;
(15) Give parents and guardians a copy of the
expulsion policy;
(16) Provide
written notification to parents or guardians, any concerns that could lead to
the child's expulsion; and
(17)
When expulsion occurs, maintain a record of the conditions, parental
notification, and action taken when applicable.
(d) The eligible family using an exempt
provider providing home-based child care, including in-home care, may be
authorized to receive child care payments presumptively once the provider is in
compliance with paragraphs (c)(1) to (c)(7)(A). Child care payments to the
eligible family unit may be made retroactively in accordance with section
17-798.3-6(g).
(e) If the
department receives information that the exempt provider, including relatives
excluded from paragraph 17-798.3-51(c) (8), is in violation of subchapters 3, 4
or 5, or that the provider is conducting child care in violation of section
346-152,
HRS, the department will conduct an investigation, including an inspection of
the child care facility.
(1) All exempt
providers shall cooperate with the department by providing access to the
premises, records, staff, and household members, including relatives excluded
from paragraph 17-798.3-51(c)(8).
(2) Child care payments shall cease in
accordance with sections 17-798.3-9(d)(4)(A) and 17-798.3-19(a)(7) until the
department has completed its investigation and determined that the exempt
provider is in compliance with section
346-152,
HRS, or subchapters 3, 4 or 5.