New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services
Subchapter C - Social Services
Article 2 - Family and Children's Services
Part 418 - Day Care Centers
Subpart 418-1 - Child Day Care Centers
Section 418-1.15 - Management and Administration

Universal Citation: 18 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs § 418-1.15

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025

(a) General licensing requirements.

(1)

(i) Each child day care center must obtain a license from the office. No person or entity may operate a child day care center without a license from the office.

(ii) Each child day care center must operate in compliance with the regulations of the office and all other applicable laws and regulations.

(iii) Each child day care center must operate in compliance with all emergency health guidance promulgated by the Department of Health in the interest of public health during a designated public health emergency. Provided that, during a designated public health emergency, any relevant emergency directives from the executive chamber or from the Department of Health shall supersede regulations of the Office in the case of any conflict.

(2) Each child day care center that has been issued a license by the office must openly display such license, along with any restrictions, limitations and waivers to the license, in the center for which it was issued.

(3) A new application for a license must be submitted to the office when there is a change in the address or owner or when a license is sought following the revocation of or denial of an application to renew a license.

(4) The provisions specified on the license are binding and the child day care center must operate in compliance with the terms of the license. The number and age range of children specified thereon are the maximum number and age range of children who may be in the care of the child day care center at any one time.

(5) No license will be issued unless the program is in full compliance with the regulations of the office and all other applicable laws and regulations except where a waiver of one or more requirements of this Subpart has been approved in writing by the office in accordance with Part 413.5 of this Title.

(6) The effective period of the initial license for a child day care center will be up to two years and any subsequent licenses will be up to four years each so long as the program remains in compliance with applicable laws and regulations during such periods.

(7) A license is not transferable to any other person, entity or location.

(8) A child day care center required to be licensed with the office will not be exempt from this requirement through registration with another State agency or certification, registration or licensure by any local governmental agency or authorized agency.

(9) Before denial of an application for a license or renewal of a license, the licensee is entitled to a hearing before the office pursuant to Part 413 of this Title.

(b) General operation requirements.

(1) Individual children must be cared for less than 24 hours a day. No teacher may work more than two consecutive shifts.

(2) The licensee must make a written request to the office before providing an additional shift of care beyond what was specified and approved in the initial application.

(3) The licensee cannot provide an additional shift of care until the changes have been approved in writing by the office.

(4) The staff and volunteers must be in good health and be of good character and habits.

(5) The submission of fraudulent or altered documents to the office or its representatives is prohibited.

(6) Confidentiality. Confidentiality.

(i) Information relating to an individual child is confidential and cannot be disclosed without written parental permission to anyone other than the office, its designees or other persons authorized by law.

(ii) Information relating to an individual child may be disclosed to a social services district where the child receives a day care subsidy from the district, where the child has been named in a report of alleged child abuse or maltreatment, or as otherwise authorized by law.

(iii) Redisclosure of confidential HIV-related information, as defined in section 360-8.1 of the Public Health Law, concerning a child receiving child day care is not permitted except in a manner consistent with article 27-F of the Public Health Law;

(7) A child day care center may not refuse to admit a child to the program solely because the child has a developmental delay or a disability or has been diagnosed as having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HIV-related illness or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Each such child must be evaluated by the program to determine whether the child could be accommodated in the program if reasonable modifications are made to the premises and/or program. Nothing contained in section 418-1.11 of this Subpart shall be deemed to require the program to incur significant additional expenses to modify the premises and/or program to accommodate such a child.

(8) The parent of a child receiving care must have:

(i) unlimited and on demand access to such child;

(ii) the right to inspect all parts of the building used for child day care or which could present a hazard to the health or safety of the child whenever the parent requests at any time during the hours of operation of the child day care center;

(iii) unlimited and on demand access to the director and teachers whenever such child is in care or during the normal hours of operation; and

(iv) unlimited and on demand access to written records concerning such child except where access to such records is otherwise restricted by law.

(9) Electronic monitors and surveillance equipment.

(i) The parents of all children receiving care in a day care center equipped with electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras installed for the purpose of allowing parents to view their children in the day care setting by means of the internet must be informed that cameras will be used for this purpose. All staff of the day care center must also be informed if video surveillance cameras will be used for this purpose.

(ii) All parents of children enrolled in the day care center and all staff and volunteers of the day care center must be made aware of the locations of all video surveillance cameras used at the day care center.

(iii) Day care centers opting to install and use electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras must comply with all State and Federal laws applicable to the use of such equipment.

(iv) Electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras may not be used as a substitute for competent direct supervision of children.

(v) Electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras are permitted to transmit images of children in common rooms, hallways and play areas only. Bathrooms and changing areas must remain private and free of all video surveillance equipment.

(vi) Day care centers that use electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras must allow inspectors and other representatives of the office to have access to such equipment and to have viewing privileges as required by the office.

(vii) Parents of children, staff and volunteers must be notified when electronic monitoring devices or surveillance cameras are used.

(viii) Day care centers opting to allow parents to view their children in the day care setting by means of the internet must use and maintain adequate internet security measures at all times. Such measures include but are not limited to: frequent changes of passwords; filtering measures that prohibit public access to or viewing of day care activities via the internet; and immediate corrective action in response to any report of abuse of the system or inappropriate access. Such centers must also advise the parents having access to views of the day care center through the internet of the importance of security in regard to such viewing and of the importance of the privacy rights of other children who may be viewed.

(10)

(i) The child day care center must admit inspectors and other representatives of the office onto the grounds and premises at any time during the hours of operation of the center. Inspectors and representatives of the office must be given free access to the building or buildings used by the center, staff, volunteers and children and any records of the center.

(ii) A child day care center must cooperate with inspectors and other representatives of the office in regard to any inspections or investigations that are conducted by the office or its representatives.

(iii) A child day care center must cooperate with local Child Protective Services' staff conducting any investigation of alleged child abuse or maltreatment.

(iv) No staff person or volunteer may place or attempt to place an office representative, who is performing his/her role as such, in reasonable fear of physical injury.

(v) Any intentional display of physical or verbal force, which would give an office representative reason to fear or expect bodily harm, is prohibited.

(vi) Intentional and wrongful physical contact with an office representative is prohibited.

(11) In hiring a director subsequent to issuance of a license, a program:

(i) must notify the office immediately in writing when there is any change in director;

(ii) must submit to the office within 15 days of the written notification of the change in director, the name of any new director and the supporting documentation needed to complete the approval process including:

(a) the forms necessary for the office to inquire whether the applicant is the subject of an indicated report of child abuse or maltreatment on file with the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment;

(b) the forms necessary to check the register of substantiated category one cases of abuse or neglect maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of Persons with Special Needs pursuant to section 495 of the Social Services Law;

(d) a sworn statement indicating whether, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, he or she has ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in New York State or any other jurisdiction; and

(e) three acceptable references;

(iii) must obtain a medical statement before the person has any involvement with children in care, as required in section 418-1.11(b) of this Subpart;

(iv) may, during the office's review of all documentation for any proposed director, continue to operate the program; and

(v) may not leave the proposed director in sole charge of or unsupervised with children until such time as the office approves the proposed director.

(12) The child day care center must report to the office:

(i) immediately upon learning of a change that affects those portions of the building and property in which the program is operating or which are used for the children's egress in the case of emergency;

(ii) at least 30 days in advance of any proposed changes to the area used for child care;

(iii) immediately or no later than the next day of business of the director's resignation or termination;

(iv) immediately upon learning of any other change that would place the center out of compliance with applicable regulations.

(13) All staff and volunteers of the child day care center must be familiar with the office regulations and policies governing such programs, and the child care center's policies. Such regulations and policies must be readily accessible to staff and volunteers for reference purposes.

(14) The program must immediately notify the parent and office upon learning of the death, serious incident, serious injury, serious condition, communicable illness, or transportation to a hospital, of a child which occurred while the child was in care at the program or was being transported by the program. A serious incident includes any event in which a child requires medical attention other than routine illness, is left without competent supervision for any period of time, or leaves the program without an approved teacher or designated person.

(15) Parents must be given the opportunity to discuss issues related to their children and the care of their children with the director, group teacher or assistant teacher. Such opportunities must occur at the time of enrollment and as frequently as needed thereafter, but at least annually.

(16) The indoor and outdoor areas of the child day care center where the children are being cared for must not be used for any non-child care activity or other business or social purpose when children are present such that the attention of staff is diverted from the care of the children.

(17)

(i) Within five days after receiving the initial license and before actually commencing operation, the licensee must, using a form specified by the office for that purpose, notify the local police and fire departments of the municipality within which the day care center is located of the following:

(a) the address of the child day care center;

(b) the maximum capacity of the child day care center;

(d) the hours during which children will be in care.

(ii) If the local municipality does not have a police or fire department, the sheriff of the county within which the child day care center is located must be notified instead. The licensee must notify the local police and fire departments or the county sheriff, as appropriate, if there is any change in any of the information required to be provided pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

(18) When the office notifies the program that such a statement is required, the program must provide a statement from the appropriate local official or authority that the facility meets standards for sanitation and safety.

(19) The child day care center must comply with all applicable State and Federal laws relating to equal employment opportunities.

(20) All day care centers that accept direct and indirect payments from a social services district, or a payment from a parent or caretaker, for providing subsidized child care must comply with all relevant requirements of the child care subsidy program and Part 415.4(h) of this Title.

(21) A child day care center must give the parent, at the time of admission of a child, a written policy statement including, but not limited to:

(i) the responsibilities of the program;

(ii) the responsibilities of the parent;

(iii) the policies of the child day care center regarding admission and disenrollment policies;

(iv) how parents will be notified of accidents, serious incidents and injuries;

(v) the behavior management policy;

(vi) a summary of the program's evacuation plan including the primary and secondary evacuation sites;

(vii) the program activities to be provided;

(viii) a summary of the program's health care policies, including the level of illness the center will accommodate;

(ix) actions the child day care center will take in the event the child is not picked up as scheduled;

(x) the food service arrangements;

(xi) instructional materials on the available procedures and legal remedies if they suspect their child has been abused or maltreated;

(xii) how to access the regulations;

(xiii) contact information for the office including the Child Care Complaint Line;

(xiv) transportation policy; and

(xv) information on healthy food and beverage choices and the prevention of childhood obesity.

(22) The child day care center must post or display conspicuously in a place to which parents have free and daily access, the following:

(i) the office's child day care center regulations;

(ii) the name(s), addresses and telephone numbers of person(s) with the legal responsibility and administrative authority for the operation of the child day care center; and

(iii) the address and telephone number of the appropriate regional office of the office which may be contacted to lodge a complaint against the center for violations of statutory and regulatory requirements.

(23) Upon termination or resignation of the director, an acting director must be immediately named by the licensee. The appointment of the acting director must be shared with the office by the next day of business. A permanent director must be on-site within 90 days.

(24) When a day care center is operated by an entity other than a sole proprietor, such entity shall immediately notify the office upon any transfer or reapportionment of stock or any change in ownership.

(25) When a child day care center is located in a multi-use building, those portions of the building designated for the care of children must be used exclusively for child day care during the hours that children are present.

(26) Each child day care center must be staffed to perform administrative/fiscal management functions and, during all hours of operation, program supervision functions, including developing, directing and supervising daily activity programs for children. These functions may be performed by one individual or may be shared in any combination between two or more individuals.

(27) When an agency operates multiple licensed centers, the person performing the administrative/fiscal management functions may be shared across such centers.

(28) Child day care programs must keep all records relevant to the current licensing period, and the immediately preceding licensing period.

(29) Mid-point requirements for four-year license holders. At the two-year calendar date in a four year licensing cycle, a program must be in compliance with the following mid-point requirements and be able to show proof of compliance to the office when requested, as follows:

(i) proof of compliance with the training requirements of section 418-1.14 of this Subpart;

(ii) where a program uses a private water supply, a report from a State licensed laboratory or individual, based on tests performed within the 12 months preceding the calendar date of the two-year mark in a four year license, showing that the water meets standards for drinking water established by the New York State Department of Health;

(iii) documentation from service personnel licensed by the New York State Department of State to perform fire alarm systems maintenance, repair and testing which shows that the fire alarm and detection systems have been inspected, tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State or other applicable fire and building codes when the Fire and Building Code of New York State is not applicable, for use of the building as a child day care center;

(iv) documentation from service personnel qualified to perform fire suppression systems testing showing that fire suppression equipment and systems have been tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Code and Building Code of New York State, or other applicable fire and building codes when the Fire and Building Code of New York State is not applicable, for use of the building as a child day care center; and

(v) documentation from an inspector from the New York State Department of Labor, or an insurance company licensed to write boiler insurance in New York State, showing that all steam or hot water boilers have been inspected and approved during the current license period in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Labor. For all other fuel burning heating systems and equipment, and boilers not subject to the New York State Department of Labor requirements, documentation of service by a heating contractor performed within the 12 months preceding the date of application for renewal.

(30) When a program proposes to care for a child under the age of six weeks, prior approval must be obtained from the office. In seeking such approval, the program must furnish, in writing, the following:

(i) identifying information related to the specific child who would receive care, including the parent's name and address, and the child's name, gender and age;

(ii) the extenuating circumstance necessitating the care; and

(iii) a description of what the program will do to achieve consistency with the office's guidelines for the care of children under the age of six weeks; and

(c) The program must maintain on file at the child day care center, available for inspection by the office or its designees at any time, the following records in a current and accurate manner:

(1) a copy of the evacuation plan, evacuation drills, and shelter-in-place drills conducted, on forms furnished by the office or approved equivalents, as required in sections 418-1.4(b) and 418-1.5(b) of this Subpart;

(2) an approved health care plan on forms furnished by the office, as required in section 418-1.11(c) of this Subpart;

(3) the name, address, gender, and date of birth of each child and each child's parents' names, addresses, telephone numbers and place(s) at which the parents or other persons responsible for the child can be reached in case of an emergency;

(4) the names and addresses of persons authorized to take the child(ren) from the child day care center;

(5) daily attendance records, which must be filled out at the time a child arrives and departs, and must include arrival and departure times;

(6) children's health records, including parental consents for emergency medical treatment, child's medical statement and immunizations; any available results of lead screening; the name and dosage of any medications used by a child and the frequency of administration of such medications; and a record of their administration by child day care center staff; and a record of illnesses, injuries and any indicators of child abuse or maltreatment;

(7) copies of current staff and volunteers health statements;

(8) copies of the child day care center's personnel policies and practices;

(9) a description of program activities offered to meet the needs of children, as described in section 418-1.7(a) of this Subpart;

(10) a description of the procedure to be used to review and evaluate the background information supplied by applicants for employment and volunteer positions, as required in section 418-1.13 of this Subpart;

(11) personnel information including a list of all staff with job assignments and schedules; Statewide Central Register clearance results; Justice Center for the Protection of Persons with Special Needs background check forms; criminal history review information; staff resumes; medical statement, acceptable references and other information required by section 418-1.13 of this Subpart;

(12) a current daily schedule documenting the arrival and departure times of each staff person and volunteers;

(13) a description of the schedule and content of training as required in section 418-1.14 of this Subpart, including use of both in-service training and outside training resources;

(14) when the child day care center licensee is an entity other than a sole proprietorship, the following additional documentation:

(i) a copy of the certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, or articles of organization and any amendments thereto;

(ii) verification of filing of the certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, or articles of organization and any amendments thereto with the Secretary of State;

(iii) a current list of the names of the board of directors, partners or members and their addresses, telephone numbers of the current principal officers and members, and the business and civic qualifications of all such individuals;

(15) a copy of the notification form provided to the local police and fire departments or the county sheriff as required in subparagraph (b)(17)(i) of this section;

(16) the napping agreement for each child in care;

(17) the transportation policy and written parental permission for the transportation of each child in care;

(18) written parental permission for aquatic activities and the plan which details the system of supervising and checking children who are swimming, pursuant to section 418-1.5 of this Subpart;

(19) current cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first aid certificates as required pursuant to section 418-1.14 of this Subpart;

(20) a sample copy of all forms used in the child day care center;

(21) all records relevant to the current licensing period, and the immediately preceding licensing period;

(22) documentation from the local health department or the New York State Department of Health showing that the facility has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Health;

(23) a description of specific procedures which will assure the safety of a child who is reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment as well as other children provided care in the child day care center;

(24) a description of policies and practices regarding appropriate supervision of children in conformance with section 418-1.8 of this Subpart;

(25) a description of the pattern of supervision of staff by the director or other responsible person, and procedures to assure adequate and appropriate supervision of staff and volunteers of the program;

(26) when meals are provided by the facility:

(i) evidence that four weeks of current menus for snacks and meals have been reviewed by a person qualified in nutrition as being compliant with USDA Child and Adult Food Program meal patterns, as required in section 418-1.12(v) of this Subpart; or

(ii) a copy of the current letter of approval of the food program issued by the Federal Child And Adult Care Food Program; or

(iii) a description of food service arrangements if meals are not prepared at the center;

(27) when the child day care center is owned by an individual, corporation, partnership or other entity using a business or assumed name, a copy of the certificate of doing business under an assumed name obtained from the county clerk;

(28) a copy of a certificate of insurance from an insurance company showing the intent to provide general liability insurance to the child day care center upon licensure and a copy of the insurance policy issued after licensure;

(29) where a program uses a private water supply, a report from a State licensed laboratory or individual, based on tests performed within the 12 months preceding the date of application for licensure, showing that the water meets standards for drinking water established by the New York State Department of Health;

(30) a copy of the certification that the building, property and premises and the surrounding neighborhood and environment are free from environmental hazards, as required in section 418-1.2(a)(6) and (e)(6) of this Subpart;

(31) documentation from service personnel licensed by the New York State Department of State to perform fire alarm systems maintenance, repair and testing which shows that the fire alarm and detection systems have been inspected, tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

(32) documentation from service personnel qualified to perform fire suppression systems maintenance, repair and testing showing that fire suppression equipment and systems have been tested and maintained during the current license period in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

(33) documentation from the local government authority having jurisdiction for determining compliance with the Fire and Building Code of New York State showing that the facility has been inspected and approved once every 12 months during the current license period for compliance with the applicable fire safety provisions of the Fire and Building Code of New York State;

(34) documentation showing inspection and approval of any steam or hot water boilers performed in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Department of Labor and service performed once every 24 months during the current license period on all other fuel burning heating systems and equipment and boilers not subject to the New York State Department of Labor requirements.

(d) A child day care center located in a public school building currently used for an elementary, middle or secondary public education program approved or inspected by the State Education Department is exempt from the requirements set forth in paragraph (b)(29)(ii)-(v) and (c)(29)-(34) of this section. Such program must maintain on file copies of the current certificate of occupancy issued by the State Education Department. If a program is not issued a certificate of occupancy, the appropriate local equivalent, acceptable to the State Education Department, must be maintained on file.

(e) Where multiple sites are operated by one organization, records, other than those of children currently enrolled in the child day care center, may be retained at a central administrative location. The organization of these centers must make all such records available on site upon request by the office or its designees.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York 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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