Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 13 - AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES › Sub-Agency 140 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › Chapter 015 - VERMONT HEALTH REGULATIONS CHAPTER 5, SUBCHAPTER 14 - ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS-DAY CARE FACILITIES › Section 13 140 015 - VERMONT HEALTH REGULATIONS CHAPTER 5, SUBCHAPTER 14 - ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS-DAY CARE FACILITIES

Current through June, 2024
Section 1401 GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) DEFINITIONS
A day care facility is any place operated as a business or
				  service on a regular or continual basis whether for compensation or not to
				  provide day care services on a full day or half-day basis.
An early childhood facility is any place, except those
				  supported in whole by tax funds, operated as a business or service on a regular
				  or continual basis, whether for compensation or not to provide pre-school
				  educational services on a half-day basis.
A nursery school is an early childhood facility which
				  provides social and cognitive experiences to children three or four years old.
				  No child attends longer than five hours per day, usually within a morning or an
				  afternoon session.
A kindergarten is an early childhood facility which provides
				  social and cognitive experiences to children five years old (or during the
				  calendar year proceding the year in which the child will first attend public
				  school). No child attends longer than five hours per day, usually a morning or
				  an afternoon session.
A staff member is any person who provides or helps to provide
				  day care services at a day care or early childhood facility, whether for
				  compensation or not.
A director is the staff member who has operating
				  responsibility for a day care or early childhood facility.
Utensils are any kitchenware, tableware, glassware, cutlery,
				  dishes, containers, machines or other equipment with which food or drink comes
				  in contact with during storage, preparation or serving.
Food or drink shall mean all substances meant for human
				  consumption, other than medications.
Readily perishable or readily contaminated shall include all
				  custard-filled and cream-filled pastries, milk and milk products, egg products,
				  meat, fish, shellfish, gravy. poultry stuffing, sauces, dressing, salads, and
				  sandwich spreads containing meat, fish, eggs, or milk, or milk products.
Potable water - water free from impurities in amount
				  sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects with the
				  bacteriological, chemical, physical and radiological quality conforming to
				  applicable regulations and standards of the Department of Health.
A day care home is a day care facility that is a family
				  residence other than the child's own home which offers care and protection to
				  children within a normal family routine. The day care home serves only as many
				  children as it can integrate into its own physical setting and pattern of
				  living (usually six or fewer). It is especially suitable for infants, toddlers,
				  sibling groups, as well as for neighborhood based day care for children before
				  and after school.
A group day care home is a day care facility that is an
				  extended or modified family residence other than the child's own home. It
				  utilizes two or more staff members and provides care and protection for up to
				  12 children. It is suitable for children who can profit from both a family-like
				  care situation and group experiences from peers.
A day care center is a day care facility which provides care
				  and protection to more than 12 children. Centers do not usually attempt to
				  simulate family living.
(b)
				APPLICATION
1) These regulations shall apply
				to all the facilities subject to the licensing requirements of the Licensing
				& Regulation Unit.
2) The
				design and construction requirements of this Chapter shall apply to all day
				care facilities constructed after July 1, 1974. Day care facilities constructed
				prior to July 1, 1974 shall comply with the design and construction standards
				of this Chapter as far as is practical, or wherever it is determined that a
				health hazard would be created by not complying with these standards. All day
				care facilities shall comply with all operational requirements of this
				Chapter.
3) The Commissioner of
				Health may authorize the Sanitarian, responsible to the Licensing &
				Regulation Unit, to approve the use of new or existing fixtures, materials,
				equipment and methods of a type which do not conform to the requirements of
				this Chapter; provided that the equipment and/or methods shall be safe and
				sanitary and that the design and quality are equal to or better than the
				requirements of this Chapter.