Alabama Administrative Code › Title 660 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES › Chapter 660-5-20 - HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES - REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR FACILITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM › Section 660-5-20-.05 - Transportation

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
NOTE:
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DOES NOT
				INSPECT AWAY-FROM-FACILITY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SWIMMING, TRANSPORTATION, OR
				ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE FACILITY SHALL ASSUME FULL AUTHORITY AND
				RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM THE FACILITY.
(1) Transportation Provided by the Facility.
(a) IF THE FACILITY PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION
			 OR ANY ACTIVITIES AWAY FROM THE FACILITY, A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SIGNED BY EACH
			 CHILD'S PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S), SHALL BE ON FILE IN THE FACILITY PRIOR TO THE
			 CHILD'S PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ACTIVITIES. THE STATEMENT SHALL INDICATE THAT THE
			 PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) HAS/HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
			 RESOURCES DOES NOT INSPECT ACTIVITIES PROVIDED AWAY FROM THE FACILITY AND THAT
			 THE FACILITY ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES.
(b) The facility shall be responsible for
			 each child who is using transportation contracted for, arranged by, or provided
			 by the facility. For purposes of these regulations, transportation includes the
			 use of vehicles as well as walking to and from away-from-the-facility
			 activities.
(c) Transportation
			 checklists.
1. Checklists shall be used to
			 account for the loading and unloading of each child from the vehicle at every
			 location. Checklists shall also be used to account for each child during
			 activities that include walking to and from the facility.
2. The facility shall designate the staff
			 person responsible for completing the checklist. The designated staff person
			 shall sign (initials are not acceptable) the checklist when it has been
			 completed.
3. The driver of the
			 vehicle shall sign (initials are not acceptable) the completed checklist at
			 each location, indicating he or she has checked each seat in the vehicle at
			 each location to verify that no child is left on the vehicle.
4. Completed checklists shall be kept on file
			 in the facility for the current year plus two additional years.
(d) When the facility provides
			 transportation to and from the home or another designated location, the
			 facility shall be responsible for picking the child up at the designated
			 location and delivering the child to the care of the designated
			 person.
(e) Supervision of children
			 in facility vehicles.
1. In addition to the
			 driver, staff shall be provided to meet required staff-child ratios for
			 children younger than lawful school age. NOTE: The driver of the vehicle shall
			 not be counted in the required staff-child ratio when children younger than
			 lawful school age are transported.
2. For children of lawful school age and
			 older, fewer than fifteen (15) children may be transported with only the driver
			 of the vehicle, provided the driver meets child care worker
			 qualifications.
3. If fifteen (15)
			 or more children of lawful school age are transported, at least one staff
			 person in addition to the driver shall be required.
4. If thirty (30) or more children of lawful
			 school age are transported, at least two (2) staff persons in addition to the
			 driver shall be required.
5. No
			 child shall be left in a vehicle without adult supervision at any
			 time.
6. A staff person shall
			 accompany each child younger than 21/2 years of age from the vehicle to the
			 care of the designated person.
7. A
			 staff person shall visually supervise each child 21/2 years of age and older
			 from the vehicle to the care of a designated person.
8. The driver shall check each seat of the
			 vehicle at each location to verify that no child is left on the
			 vehicle.
(f) Safety
			 precautions in all vehicles used and operated by the facility in transporting
			 children.
1. Stationary seating space for
			 each child shall be provided, and no child shall sit on the floor. Children
			 shall remain seated while the vehicle is in motion.
2. Doors shall be locked at all times when
			 the vehicle is moving.
3. Children
			 shall not be transported in the front seat of any vehicle with a passenger side
			 air bag.
4. The driver of the
			 vehicle and all passengers shall be secured in a passenger restraint system at
			 all times when the vehicle is moving.
5. Each child shall be properly secured using
			 an aftermarket or integrated child passenger restraint system meeting
			 applicable state and federal motor vehicle safety standards. Each child
			 passenger restraint system shall be appropriate for the age and size of the
			 child.
(i) Each child younger than one (1)
			 year of age or weighing less than twenty (20) pounds shall be secured in an
			 infant only or a convertible seat used in a rear facing position which is
			 properly anchored to the vehicle, installed and used according to the
			 manufacturer's instructions and maintained in good condition.
(ii) Each child younger than five (5) years
			 of age or weighing less than 40 pounds shall be properly secured in a
			 convertible seat in the forward facing position or in a forward facing seat
			 which is properly anchored to the vehicle, installed and used according to the
			 manufacturer's instructions and maintained in good condition.
(iii) Each child younger than six (6) years
			 of age shall be properly secured in a booster seat which is properly anchored
			 to the vehicle, installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions
			 and maintained in good condition.
(iv) Each child six (6) years of age and
			 older, the driver, and each adult passenger shall be secured in an individual
			 seat belt, which is properly anchored to the vehicle.
(g) Vehicle safety check.
1. A safety check shall be done annually and
			 signed and dated by a mechanic, on all vehicles regularly used by the facility
			 to transport children.
2. A copy of
			 the safety check shall be on file in the facility. The safety check shall show
			 that the following items are operating in a safe condition: brakes; tires;
			 lights (head, signal, brake, tail); windshield wipers; steering; and exhaust
			 system; ventilation and heating system; and passenger restraint
			 systems.