Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Children and Families › DCF 201-252 - Early Care and Education › Chapter DCF 251 - Group Child Care Centers And Child Care Programs Established Or Contracted For By School Boards › Section DCF 251.11 - Licensing administration

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) GENERAL
				CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF LICENSE.
(a) A
				facility that provides care on a regular basis to 9 or more children under the
				age of 7 years shall be deemed to be providing care for compensation and shall
				be licensed as a group child care center.
(b) Prior to receiving a license, an
				applicant for a license under this chapter shall complete all application forms
				truthfully and accurately and pay all fees and forfeitures due to the
				department.
(c) The department may
				refuse to issue or continue a license if another center operated by the
				licensee is in substantial non-compliance with the licensing rules or has any
				outstanding fine or forfeitures.
(d) Persons licensed to operate a group child
				care center shall be responsible, mature individuals who are fit and qualified.
				In determining whether an applicant is fit and qualified, the department shall
				consider any history of civil or criminal violations or other offenses
				substantially related to the care of children by the applicant, owner, manager,
				representative, employee, center resident or other individual directly or
				indirectly participating in the operation of the group child care center. A
				determination of being unfit and unqualified includes substantiated findings of
				child abuse or neglect under ch. 48, Stats., or substantiated abuse under ch.
				50, Stats., or under similar statutes in another state or territory whether or
				not it results in a criminal charge or conviction.
(e) The department shall issue a group child
				care license to an applicant within 60 working days after receipt and
				department approval of a properly completed application, satisfactory
				department investigation and determination that the applicant is fit and
				qualified. Continued licensure requires a licensee to remain fit and
				qualified.
(f) If the department
				has reason to believe that the physical or mental health of any person
				associated with the care of children at the center or any household resident of
				the center might endanger children in care, the department may require that a
				written statement be submitted by a physician or, if appropriate, by a licensed
				mental health professional that shall certify the condition of the individual
				and the possible effect of that condition on the group child care center or the
				children in care.
(g) The
				department may deny or revoke the license if the examination specified under
				par. (f) gives the department reasonable concern for the care of
				children.
(h) The department may
				not process an application for a license if the applicant has had a license or
				certification to operate a child care center revoked or denied within the last
				2 years. An applicant is deemed ineligible to submit an application for a
				license and a licensee may not hire an employee within 2 years from the date an
				applicant or employee had a child care license revoked or denied.
(i) The department shall consider a licensee
				who fails to submit any of the materials described in sub. (3) or (4) by the
				expiration or continuation date of a license to have surrendered his or her
				license and to no longer hold title to the license. The former licensee may not
				continue to operate the child care center.