Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 591 - RULES OF BRIGHT FROM THE START GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CARE AND LEARNING › Chapter 591-3 › Subject 591-3-1 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SUPPORT CENTERS › Rule 591-3-1-.04 - Support Center Requirements and Registration Applications

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Support Center
				Requirements
(a) No person or business entity
				authorized under Georgia law shall operate a Support Center unless a
				Registration has been obtained from the Department.
(b) A Registration to operate a Support
				Center is not transferable in any way. A change of business ownership or
				address requires a new Registration to be issued by the Department. Each
				Registration shall become invalid immediately upon the final sale or closure of
				the Support Center, or upon the suspension, revocation, or restriction of the
				Registration.
(c) The Registration
				shall be automatically renewed each year unless the Registration is voluntarily
				surrendered by the holder or suspended or revoked by the Department.
(d) A Support Center shall not knowingly make
				any false statement in connection with a Records Check Application or change of
				ownership.
(e) A Support Center
				shall report to the Department any known arrest for a Crime or change in the
				Fingerprint Records Check Determination or Comprehensive Records Check
				Determination or Criminal Record of any Eligible Employee within twenty-four
				(24) hours or the next work day.
(f) A Support Center may submit Records Check
				Applications for Eligible Employees to the Department in accordance with
				guidelines set forth by the Department.
(g) A Support Center must ensure that every
				Eligible Employee submits both a Records Check Application to the Department
				and Fingerprints to an authorized fingerprinting site.
(h) A Support Center must ensure that every
				Eligible Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Fingerprint Records
				Check Determination or Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior
				to being present at the Early Care and Education Program while any child is
				present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Early
				Care and Education Program.
(i)
				Valid Evidence of a satisfactory Fingerprint Records Check Determination or a
				satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination must be maintained at
				the Support Center for each Eligible Employee for the duration of employment or
				residency plus one year, and such paper or electronic evidence must be made
				immediately available to the Department upon request.
(j) The Support Center must ensure that every
				Eligible Employee requests child abuse and neglect registry information and
				criminal history documents from any U.S. state, territory or tribal land other
				than Georgia in which they have resided in the preceding five years and submit
				such documents to the Department in a timely manner. Failure to request
				out-of-state information will result in the issuance of an unsatisfactory
				Comprehensive Records Check Determination.
(k) Portability for Eligible Employees
				excluding Students-in-Training. Only the most recently issued determination
				letter is eligible for portability and must be ported electronically. A Center
				or Home may accept a satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination
				letter issued by the Department if the individual's Records Check Clearance
				Date is within the preceding 12 months from the hire date, the individual has
				not had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180
				days (6 months) or longer, and the Support Center, Center or Home does not know
				or reasonably should not know that the individual's satisfactory status has
				changed.
(l) Portability for
				Students-in-Training. Only the most recently issued determination letter is
				eligible for portability and must be ported electronically. A Center or Home
				may accept a satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination letter
				issued by the Department for a Student-in-Training if the individual's Records
				Check Clearance Date is within the preceding 24 months from the hire date, the
				Center or Home has verified and maintains evidence on file that the
				Student-in-Training is currently enrolled in a high school recognized by the
				Department of Education or an early education curriculum through an accredited
				school of higher education, the individual has not had a lapse of employment
				from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, and
				the Support Center, Center or Home does not know or reasonably should not know
				that the individual's satisfactory status has changed.
(m) Recheck Required. The Support Center must
				immediately require that every Eligible Employee submit to the Comprehensive
				Records Check Determination process at the following times:
1. When the Support Center knows or
				reasonably should know that an Eligible Employee has been arrested or charged
				for any covered crime;
2. When
				there is a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180
				calendar days (6 months) or longer;
3. At least once every five years;
				and
4. When the Department so
				requests.
(n) A Support
				Center applicant shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.