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Enforcement Standards for Licensing Regulations
Section 102 CMR 1.00: ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND DEFINITIONS FOR LICENSURE OR
APPROVAL
1.01: Introduction
1.02: Definitions
1.03: Licensure
1.04: Effective Dates and Severance
1.05: Disqualifying Background Information
1.06: Right to Visit
1.07: Enforcement and Compliance with Regulations
1.08: Right to Appeals
1.09: Notifications
1.01: Introduction
102 CMR 1.00 is adopted in accordance with M.G.L. c. 28A which stresses the
commitment of state government to assure every child a fair and full opportunity to
reach his or her full potential. 102 CMR 1.00 includes definitions and requirements
that apply to all programs that the Office licenses or approves and delineate the
Office's authority to take legal action as a result of a program or facility's
non-compliance with the appropriate regulations.
1.02: Definitions
As used in 102 CMR 1.00, 3.00, 5.00, 7.00 and 8.00, the following words shall have
the following meanings unless specifically defined therein or unless the context
otherwise requires:
Abuse. The non-accidental commission of any act upon a child which causes or
creates a substantial risk of serious physical or emotional injury or constitutes a
sexual offense under the laws of the Commonwealth.
Applicant. The individual who has been designated as the person responsible for the
administration of the program or facility and is the duly authorized agent of the
person applying for licensure or approval.
Approval. A certification in writing, whether regular or provisional, issued by the
Office to a department, agency, or institution of the Commonwealth or any political
subdivision thereof which authorizes it to operate any program licensable by the
Office of Child Care Services.
Commissioner. The Commissioner of the Office of Child Care Services.
Day. Calendar day unless otherwise specified.
Disability. With respect to an individual, disability means a permanent or temporary
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life
activities of such individual; a record of having such an impairment; or being
regarded as having such an impairment.
License. Any certification in writing, whether regular or provisional, issued by the
Office to any person other than a department, agency, or institution of the
Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, which authorizes such person to
operate any program licensable by the Office for Children.
Licensee. Any person holding a license or approval issued by the Office.
Neglect. The failure, either deliberately or through negligence or inability, to
adequately care for, protect, or supervise children.
Office. The Office of Child Care Services.
Parent. Father or mother, guardian, or person or agency legally authorized to act on
behalf of the child in place of, or in conjunction with, the father, mother, or guardian.
Person. Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization or trust, or
any department, agency or institution of the federal government or of the
Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof.
51A Report. A report filed with the Department of Social Services pursuant to M.G.L.
c. 119, § 51A alleging that a child may have been abused or neglected.
51B Report. A report of an investigation of a 51A complaint conducted by the
Department of Social Services pursuant to M.G.L. c. 119, § 51B. A 51B report that is
supported means that there is reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused
or neglected by a caretaker.
1.03: Licensure
(1) Non-Discrimination. The licensee shall not discriminate in providing services to
children and their families on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political
beliefs, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation or disability. A statement
that the program does not discriminate on these bases shall be made part of the
written statement of purpose where required.
(2) Licensure or Approval Required. No person shall operate or purport to operate a
program licensable by the Office of Child Care Services without a license or approval
issued by the Office.
(3) Application. Any person who wishes to establish and maintain a program or
facility shall file a written application with the Office in a manner, and on forms,
provided by the Office.
(4) Renewal. Any person seeking to renew a license or approval shall file a written
application for such renewal with the Office in a manner, and on forms, provided by
the Office not less than 30 days prior to the date of expiration of his/her current
license or approval. If a renewal application has been filed, a license or approval, or
provisional license or approval, shall remain in effect until a determination is made by
the Office on the status of the license.
(5) Application Fee. The application, where applicable, shall be accompanied by a
check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A fee schedule may be
obtained from the Office.
(6) Availability of Regulations The licensee shall have a copy of the regulations
applicable to any license issued by the Office on the premises of the program and
shall make it available to any person upon request.
(7) Transfer of License. A license or approval shall not be transferable from one
licensee to another; from one program or facility to another; or from one owner to
another.
(8) Posting of License. The provider shall post conspicuously any license issued by
the Office.
1.04: Effective Dates and Severance
(1) Effective Date. The effective date of 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq. is May
1, 1997.
(2) Licenses Issued Under Previous Standards. Any license, or approval, in effect
immediately prior to the effective date of 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq. shall
remain in effect, unless suspended or revoked, until a new license or approval is
issued or expressly refused under 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq.
(3) Severance. If any provision contained in 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq. or
the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder
102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq. and the application of provisions in question to
other persons not similarly situated, or to other circumstances, shall not be affected
thereby.
1.05: Disqualifying Background Information
(1) Applicants and Family Day Care. Any applicant, licensee, provider, family day
care approved assistant, family day care household member, and any person regularly
on the premises when family day care children are present shall have a background
free of conduct which, in the judgment of the Office, bears adversely upon applicant's
or licensee's ability to care for children.
(a) Such conduct shall include, but not be limited to the following:
1. criminal charges or a criminal conviction included in a CORI
(Criminal Offender Record Information) report as a result of behavior
that, pursuant to written policy, OCCS has determined to impair the
applicant's or licensee's ability to care for children;
2. engaging in, or having engaged in, any other conduct, criminal or
otherwise, determined by the Office to impair the applicant's or licensee's
ability to care for children;
3. engaging in, or having engaged in conduct which results in his/her
child being adjudicated to be in need of care and protection;
4. allegations of abuse or neglect of a child, supported in a 51B report;
5. use of alcohol or drugs to an extent or in a manner that is determined
by the Office to impair the applicant's or licensee's ability to care for
children properly.
(b) An applicant shall not qualify to receive, retain, or have renewed a license
if the background of the applicant, household member, or person who is
regularly on the premises is not free from conduct which adversely bears on the
provider's ability to care for children.
(c) Failure to disclose relevant criminal history may result in mandatory
disqualification even if such crimes do not fall under the "Mandatory
Disqualification" section of the OCCS CORI Policy.
(d) A family day care home shall not have any household member or persons
who are regularly on the premises whose presence would, in the judgment of
the Office, be detrimental to the health and welfare of day care children, or
would impede or prevent the provision of adequate day care in the home.
(2) Employees of Group Day Care, School Age, Residential Programs and Agencies
Offering Child Placement and Adoption Services.
(a) Each person employed by the licensee, who has the potential for
unsupervised contact with children, shall have a background free of conduct
which bears adversely upon his or her ability to provide for the safety and
well-being of a child. The licensee shall determine, in accordance with OCCS
policy, whether an employee's or potential employee's conduct, criminal or
otherwise, shall disqualify that person from employment in the program. In
making this determination the licensee shall consider the following:
1. Engaging in, or having engaged in conduct which results in his/her
child being adjudicated to be in need of care and protection.
2. Use of alcohol or drugs to an extent or in a manner that is determined
by the licensee to impair his/her ability to care for children properly.
3. Having engaged in conduct which results in criminal charges or a
criminal conviction included in a CORI (Criminal Offender Record
Information) report.
4. Engaging in, or having engaged in, any other conduct, criminal or
otherwise, determined by the licensee, to impair the employee's ability to
care for children.
(b) Each licensee shall ensure that employees shall not have the potential for
unsupervised contact with children until the licensee determines that the
requirements of 102 CMR 1.05(2)(a) are met.
1.06: Right to Visit
(1) Visits to Determine Compliance.
(a) Any employee of the Office, may, at any reasonable time, visit and inspect
any facility or program operated by a person who is subject to licensure or
approval by the Office in order to determine whether such facility or program is
being operated in compliance with the law and with any OCCS regulations
governing such programs.
(b) Any employee of the Office authorized by the Commissioner may make
oral and written inquiries to determine whether a program or facility is being
operated in compliance with designated regulations.
(2) Complaint Investigations.
(a) An employee of the Office, authorized by the Commissioner may visit and
inspect any facility or program upon receipt of a complaint and allegations
regarding compliance with any OCCS regulations governing such programs.
(b) Such visits will be conducted at any reasonable time in order to determine
whether any child is in jeopardy and/or whether such facility or program is
being operated in accordance with any OCCS regulations governing such
programs.
(c) A person duly authorized by the Director may be accompanied by an
employee of any department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth
during the Office's investigation process if the Office and said department,
agency or institution of the Commonwealth have agreed to conduct a joint
investigation.
(3) Availability of Information. The applicant or licensee shall make available any
information requested by the Office to determine compliance with any Office
regulations governing such programs, by providing access to his/her facilities,
records, staff and references. The provider, approved assistant, household members,
and other persons who are regularly on the premises,and any staff members shall
provide the Office with all information required in any Office regulations governing
such programs.
(4) Visit Reports. Whenever the Office finds upon inspection or through information
in its possession that a program or facility is not in compliance with any applicable
licensing provisions of 102 CMR, the Office shall inform the licensee in a written
visit report of the observations made and the regulation(s) which the licensee has
violated, and may request a plan for compliance from the licensee to be submitted
within a reasonable time as determined by the Office, but in no case longer than 30
days.
1.07: Enforcement and Compliance with Regulations
(1) Deficiency Correction Orders.
(a) Whenever the Office finds upon inspection or through information in its
possession that a program or facility is not in compliance with the regulations,
the Office may order the licensee to correct any non-compliances as specified
in a deficiency correction order.
(b) The deficiency correction order shall include a statement of observations
and indicate which regulation(s) the licensee has violated. The order may
prescribe the method(s) of compliance with the regulations; and, the order shall
prescribe the time period(s) for correction, which shall be reasonable,
depending on the nature of the non-compliances cited and the time required for
corrections.
(2) Factors which shall be considered by the Office before imposing any sanction or
fine or any action authorized under 102 CMR 1.07(4) include but are not limited to:
(a) any non-compliance at the facility or program;
(b) the risk the non-compliances present to the health, safety, and welfare of
children;
(c) the nature, scope, severity, degree, number, and frequency of the
non-compliances;
(d) the licensee's failure to correct the non-compliances;
(e) any previous non-compliances; and
(f) any previous enforcement action(s).
(3) Sanctions and Fines
(a) Whenever the Office finds upon inspection or through information in its
possession that a person operating a program or facility is not in compliance
with any OCCS regulations governing such program, the Office may, in a
notice of sanction, impose one or more sanctions which may include but need
not be limited to:
1. ceasing the enrollment of new children;
2. reducing the number of children a program or component of a
program is licensed to serve;
3. hiring of a consultant(s) to provide technical assistance and/or
training;
4. hiring of additional staff on a temporary or permanent basis;
requiring the licensee to fund a monitor selected by and accountable to
the Office;
5. restricting an administrator's and/or staff person's access to children;
6. requiring that an agency withdraw it's approval of an adoptive, foster
or shelter home.
(b) Fines. The Office may levy a civil fine if it finds that an applicant or
licensee has failed to comply with any plan for compliance or deficiency
correction order issued by the Office provided that the plan or order included a
statement notifying the licensee that failure to comply with all or part of the
order may result in a civil fine levied in accordance with any OCCS regulations
governing such programs.
1. Fines shall range from $50 to $250 for family day care, group day
care, or school age child care programs; $50 to $1000 for any other
program regulated by the OCCS.
2. Failure to comply with more than one order issued by the Office may
result in the assessment of more than one fine.
(4) Probation, Suspension, Revocation, and Refusal to Issue or Renew Licenses and
Approvals.
(a) Grounds. The Office may make probationary, suspend, refuse to renew,
revoke, or refuse to issue a license or approval if it finds any of the following:
1. the applicant or licensee failed to comply with any applicable
regulation, or any deficiency correction order, notice of sanction,
suspension, agreement or terms of probation;
2. the applicant or licensee failed to pay a fine after either failing to
appeal the assessment of a fine within the prescribed time or after a
hearing where assessment of a fine was upheld;
3. the applicant or licensee submitted any misleading or false statement
or report required under 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq.;
4. the applicant or licensee refused to submit any report or make
available any records required under 102 CMR 1.00 through 8.00 et seq.;
5. the applicant or licensee refused to admit, at a reasonable time, any
employee of the Office authorized by the Commissioner to investigate or
inspect, in accordance with 102 CMR 1.00; or
6. the applicant or licensee failed to obtain a license prior to opening a
program or facility or prior to changing the location of a program or
facility.
(b) Effect.
1. Upon revocation, refusal to renew, or suspension the licensee shall
immediately return the license or approval to the Office and cease
providing services.
2. An applicant or licensee shall not qualify for a license or approval
from the Office for five years after a final agency decision to revoke or
refuse to issue or renew a license or approval held by the applicant or
licensee pursuant to M.G.L. c. 28A or other similar licensing law.
Thereafter, an applicant or licensee shall be eligible only if he/she can
demonstrate a significant change in circumstances.
3. The Office may, at its sole discretion, entertain an application for
approval or licensure prior to the expiration of five years, if it determines
that a significant change in circumstances has occurred. Such exercise of
its discretion shall not be appealable.
(5) Suspension in An Emergency.
(a) The Office may suspend any license or approval without a prior hearing if
failure of the licensee to comply with any applicable regulation results in an
emergency situation which endangers the life, health, or safety of children or
staff present in the program or facility. The licensee shall be notified of any
such suspension of a license or approval by written notice, hand delivered, or
mailed to the licensee via first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt
requested, or delivered by courier requiring a signed receipt. If a Notice of
Claim for a hearing is delivered in hand or mailed to the Office via first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, within five business days
of the licensee's receipt of such notice, a hearing shall be held within ten
business days of the receipt of such Notice of claim. The suspension shall
remain in effect pending such a hearing.
(b) The sole issue at the hearing shall be whether the Office has reasonable
cause to believe that the licensee's failure to comply with any applicable
regulation resulted in an emergency situation which endangers the life, health,
or safety of children or staff present in the program or facility. If a 51B report
indicates that any abuse or neglect occurred in a family day care program or
during participation in a family day care program related activity, it shall be
prima facie evidence that an emergency exists.
(c) The licensee shall notify the parents or guardians of all children enrolled in
the program or facility and all funding agencies of any such suspension of a
license or approval within two business days of receipt of notice from the
Office.
(d) Upon suspension, the licensee shall immediately return the license or
approval to the Office and cease providing services.
(6) Follow-up to Enforcement Action.
(a) Upon the expiration of the time frame(s) prescribed in a plan for
compliance, deficiency correction order, or notice of sanction, a duly
authorized employee of the Office will determine compliance with such plan,
order, or notice, by visiting the facility or program, reviewing documents,
and/or verifying compliance through whatever other means the Office deems
suitable.
(b) If a determination of non-compliance with such plan, order, or notice is
made, the Office may request an additional plan, issue an additional deficiency
correction order or notice of sanction; or, in addition to any of the actions listed
above, levy a civil fine pursuant to 102 CMR 1.00; or make probationary,
revoke, suspend, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew a license or approval.
(c) 102 CMR 1.00 in no way limits the Office's authority to visit any facility
or program subject to licensure or approval by the Office to determine
compliance with any regulation, nor does 102 CMR 1.00 limit the Office's
authority to make probationary, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue a license or
approval.
(d) Following revocation, refusal to renew or suspension, a duly authorized
employee of the Office will determine compliance by visiting the facility or
program, reviewing documents, and/or verifying compliace through whatever
other means the Office deems suitable.
1.08: Rights to Appeal
(1) Request for Administrative Reconsideration.
(a) Within seven days of receipt of a deficiency correction order or notice of a
sanction, the licensee may file with the General Counsel a written request for
administrative reconsideration. The request shall be limited to direct and
specific reasons why the notice of sanction or any item in the deficiency
correction order or any portion thereof should be rescinded or modified, and the
approximate time(s) requested by the licensee to take corrective measures if
any.
(b) Within 15 business days after receipt of a request for reconsideration, the
General Counsel shall grant, deny, or otherwise act on such request.
(c) Filing a request for administrative reconsideration shall not alter the time
required for compliance with the notice of sanction or deficiency correction
order.
(2) Request for a Formal Hearing.
(a) An applicant whose application for a license or approval the Office intends
to deny, or a licensee whose approval or license the Office intends to make
probationary, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew, or whom the Office intends
to fine, may request a hearing held pursuant to the Standard Adjudicatory Rules
of Practice and Procedure 801 CMR 1.01 et seq. by filing a Notice of Claim for
a hearing and an answer within 21 days of receipt of the Office's notice.
(b) The hearing officer shall enter a recommended decision. A final agency
decision shall be issued by the Commissioner or his/her designee. Hearings
shall be in accordance with the provisions of 801 CMR 1.01 et seq. Failure to
request a hearing and file timely answers may be deemed a waiver of such right
and a final agency decision may enter without further notice.
(3) Evidence at Hearings.
(a) A 51A or 51B report shall be admissible as evidence if it indicates that a
child was abused or neglected:
1. by a licensee;
2. by a family day care provider, approved assistant, household
member, or person regularly on the premises of the family day care
home; or
3. by any staff member of a licensed facility or program; or
4. by any person regularly on the premises of a licensed facility or
program; or
5. while in the care of a licensed facility or program.
(b) At any hearing involving abuse or neglect at a licensed facility or program,
no child shall be required to testify. If necessary, caseworkers, parents or other
adults who have talked to the child allegedly abused or neglected may testify in
place of the child, and videotaped interviews with the child may be introduced.
Such testimony shall be admissible at the hearing and a case based solely on
such evidence shall not be subject to dismissal on the grounds that it relies in
whole or in part on hearsay.
1.09: Notifications
(1) Notification by the Office.
(a) The Office shall inform state funding agencies, or any other agency
specified by the Office, of the Office's intent to impose a sanction upon a
licensee or to revoke, suspend, make probationary, or refuse to renew a license
or approval and shall notify them in writing of any deficiency correction order,
sanction, probationary status, suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew.
(b) When corrective action has been completed, or if a suspended license or
approval is restored, state funding agencies, or any other agency specified by
the Office, shall be informed.
(2) Notification by the Licensee.
(a) Every licensee shall post in a conspicuous place any current license or
approval issued by the Office and any notice of hearing, notice of sanction,
order, or decision issued by the Office that pertains to the program or facility.
Such posting shall be in an area easily viewed by visitors and employees.
(b) The Office may require that written notice of any deficiency correction
order, sanction, probationary status, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew
be sent by the licensee to funding agencies, referral sources, and when
appropriate, parents and any other agency specified by the Office. The Office
may specify the content of such notice.
(c) The Office may require the licensee to obtain a signed acknowledgement
of receipt of such notice on a form specified by the Office.
(d) The Office may require the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of
the parents of all children enrolled at the time of the regulatory action and
during the previous five years.
(e) In Family Day Care cases,the Office may require the names of all
providers for whom an approved assistant has worked.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
102 CMR 1.00: M.G.L. c. 28A.
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