This letter is to notify stakeholders that as a result of the passage of Am. Sub. H.B. 153 of the 129th General Assembly and the agency's rule review process, which requires all rules to be reviewed at least every five years, the following rules have been reviewed and amended. These rules are effective September 29, 2011.

The following is a summary of the changes to the rules:

Rule 5101:2-13-01 "Definitions for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to include the definition of "career pathways model" and to redefine "administrator."

Rule 5101:2-13-03 "License Capacity for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to correct spacing issues. There have been no changes to the content of the rule.

Rule 5101:2-13-04 "Initial Application and Issuance of a Provisional License for Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to define a "continuous license." Programs will no longer need to reapply every two years to have their licenses renewed. After the type A home completes the provisional period, the license will continue as a regular license without an expiration date, unless the program demonstrates that it cannot operate in compliance with the licensing rules. The rule has also been amended to increase the initial application fee, to extend the provisional period to twelve months and to add language regarding the application process. This rule also prohibits a licensed type A home from being a certified type B home through the county department of Job and Family Services.

Rule 5101:2-13-04.1 "Procedures for Type A Homes Operating Under a Provisional License." This rule is a new rule which explains the requirements for compliance inspections during the provisional period, what happens at the end of the provisional period and under what circumstances a license may be proposed for revocation during the provisional period.

Rule 5101:2-13-05 "License Amendments for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to revise the title of the rule, to remove language regarding initial applications and move that language to 5101:2-13-04 and to detail the process for requesting an amendment to a type A home license.

Rule 5101:2-13-06 "Procedures for Renewal of a Child Care Center License." This rule has been rescinded as a result of the change to a continuous license for child care.

Rule 5101:2-13-07 "Inspection and Investigation of Licensed and Unlicensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to revise the title of the rule, to move language regarding inspections to 5101:2-13-06, to require the home to respond to the inspection report by the date listed in the report and to remove language regarding renewal of a license.

Rule 5101:2-13-09 "Denial or Revocation of a Child Care Center Application or License." This rule has been amended to remove language about renewal of a license and to increase the number of years required to pass before someone who has had their license revoked can apply again for a child care license.

Rule 5101:2-13-10 "Building Department Inspection for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to include the requirement that the home follow any stipulations or limitations that the building inspection department indicates on the report.

Rule 5101:2-13-11 "Fire Department Approval for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to specify that the home must secure a new fire inspection approval if the program changes location.

Rule 5101:2-13-20 "Supervision, Staff/Child Ratios and Grouping for Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to clarify supervision standards for times when children are out of sight of the child care staff member, to replace the staff/child ratio paragraphs with a chart outlining the required ratios, and the limitation of caring for no more than three children under two years of age has been revised to caring for no more than three children under the age of eighteen months. Additionally, language has been added regarding attendance requirements.

Rule 5101:2-13-24 "Administrator Responsibilities and Qualifications for Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to clarify that the administrator's designee does not have to meet the administrator educational qualifications, to remove the requirement that home schooled students submit a letter verifying that their curriculum met state requirements and to add the requirement that type A administrators complete the ODJFS administrator rules training course within six months of being named.

Rule 5101:2-13-30 "Written Information, Policies and Procedures to be Provided to Parents/Guardians of Children in Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been amended to update the revision date of the JFS 01337.

Rule 5101:2-13-32 "Parental Participation Policies and Parent Roster Requirements in Licensed Type A Homes." This rule has been rescinded as the statutory requirement for type A homes to prepare and maintain a parent roster has been removed. Language regarding the parental participation policy has been moved to 5101:2-13-30.

The electronic version of the Child Care Type A Home Manual is located at: http://emanuals.jfs.ohio.gov. The manual contains all rules and transmittal letters that the department has issued to licensed type A homes. A current version of this manual should be accessible and utilized by all providers in all licensed type A homes. Please contact the Help Desk for the Office for Families and Children at 1-866-886-3537, option 4 if you have any questions.

INSTRUCTIONS: The following chart identifies the material that needs to be removed from and inserted into the Child Care Type A Home Manual (CCAM).