Appendix A -Written Permission When Children Are Transported
Appendix B -Licensed Center Vehicle Requirements
(A) What shall be
available on all trips, including routine walking trips?
The center shall:
(1) Have written
and signed permission from the parent before transporting or escorting a child
away from the center for field trips and routine trips as detailed in appendix
A to this rule. The permission slips shall be kept on file at the center for
one year.
(2) Attach to each
child on a routine or field trip, except children being transported only to and
from school or to and from home, identification containing the center's name,
address, and a telephone number to contact in the event the child becomes lost.
(3) Have a
completed copy of the JFS 01234 "Child Enrollment and Health Information for Child Care" (rev. 12/2016) for each child on
the trip, except routine walks.
(4) Have first aid
supplies as required by rule 5101:2-12-16 of the Administrative Code.
(5) Have the
completed JFS 01236 "Child Medical/Physical Care Plan for Child Care" (rev. 12/2016), for any child who
has a health condition which could require special procedures or precautions
during the course of the trip. The center shall also take supplies needed to
provide such treatment.
(6) Have a working
cellular phone or other means of immediate communication. Cellular phones shall
not be used by a driver while the vehicle is in motion.
(7) Ensure that
the child care staff member responsible for each child on the field trip
maintains a written record of which vehicle each child is being transported in
and the cellular phone number of the adult in that vehicle who could be
contacted in an emergency.
(8) Ensure that a
person trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid and management
of communicable disease in accordance with rule 5101:2-12-10 of the
Administrative Code shall be present in the vehicle for routine trips and field
trips and at the destination on all field trips. More than one person may be
used to meet this requirement.
(9) Ensure that if
the vehicle used to transport children is manufactured with seat belts, they
shall be utilized by adults and children, no more than one person may be
strapped in each seat belt. Children or adults shall not be permitted to stand
in a moving vehicle, sit on the floor or ride in a vehicle where all seats are
not securely anchored.
(10) Not leave
children in the vehicle when it is being refueled except when a trip is of such
a length as to require refueling after starting with a full tank.
(B) What are the
ratio and supervision requirements for trips, including routine walking trips?
(1) The
staff/child ratio requirements of rule 5101:2-12-18 of the Administrative Code
shall be met on field trips and routine trips. Children shall be assigned to
specific child care staff members for all field trips.
(2) Parents,
guardians or adults authorized by the center may be drivers on field trips as
long as staff/child ratio requirements are met at the destination.
(3) An additional
adult shall be present in the vehicle whenever five or more children are being
transported and one or more of the children are infants.
(4) An additional
adult shall be present in the vehicle when there are seven or more children
being transported and no infants are present.
(5) An additional
adult shall be present in the vehicle for every ten school-age children, or the
driver shall have a means of immediate communication, such as a cellular phone,
to summon an additional adult whenever only school-age children are transported
in one vehicle.
(6) The additional
adult in the vehicle may be the driver, parent or volunteer.
(7) An adult must
be present with the vehicle any time children are in the vehicle. At no time
are children to be left unattended.
(8) The vehicle
shall be checked at completion of each trip to ensure that no child has been
left on the vehicle.
(9) During routine
walking trips or walking field trips, an additional adult shall be present for
every five infants or a combination of seven or more toddlers, preschool and
school-age children or for every ten school-age children if the group of
children on the walking trip includes only school-age children.
(10) While children
are being transported to and from the center on routine trips from their homes
or schools, the children shall not count in the center's capacity. All other
requirements of Chapter 5101:2-12 of the Administrative Code still apply.
(C) What are the
driver requirements for drivers who are used in the staff/child ratio or are
child care staff members of the center?
The driver shall:
(1) Be at least
eighteen years old.
(2) On routine
trips, be an employee or child care staff member with the exception of
contracted transportation services.
(3) Hold a
currently valid driver's license required for the type of vehicle driven in
accordance with Ohio law.
(a) A copy of each
driver's current driver's license shall be kept on file at the center.
(b) The center is
responsible for assuring that the copy of the driver's license on file is kept
current.
(4) Never leave
children alone in a vehicle.
(5) Be free from
the influence of any substance which could impair driving abilities.
(6) Meet the
requirements of an employee or child care staff member as required in rule
5101:2-12-08 of the Administrative Code.
(7) Adhere to the
state of Ohio's child restraint law found in section 4511.81 of the Revised
Code when transporting children in care.
(8) Not allow
children under twelve years of age to ride in the front seat of any vehicle.
(9) For drivers
who are not used in the staff/child ratios and who are not employees of the
center, the administrator shall secure and keep on file at the center a JFS
01266 "Contracted Driver Qualifications Statement for Child Care"
(rev. 12/2016) that has been completed at least annually by the driver's
employer.
(10) See that each
child safely boards and exits the vehicle from the curb side of the street
whenever physically possible and out of the path of moving vehicles. Drop off
or pick up at which it is not possible to board and exit from the curb side
must be conducted in a safe manner and with close supervision by the child care
staff member responsible for the children.
(11) Be trained
utilizing the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) driver
training if the driver is an employee of the center.
(a) A trained
child care staff member is not required in the vehicle on field trips when
parents are providing the transportation.
(b) A trained child
care staff member is not required when public transportation is being utilized,
if the school district is providing transportation to or from the center or if
the driver is a contracted driver.
(12) Practice the
emergency exiting procedures, if the driver is required to complete the driver
transportation training requirement pursuant to paragraph (C)(11) of this rule.
(a) The emergency
exiting procedures shall be practiced with the children on a monthly basis.
(b) This practice
shall occur during months that the vehicle is used for transporting children
and shall take place on the center's premises or another safe location that is
protected from traffic and other hazards to assure the safety of the children
involved.
(c) A written
record shall be kept of the dates when the emergency exiting procedure was
practiced and the staff that were involved.
(13) Parents, who
are not employed by the center, who use their vehicles for transportation to
occasional field trips shall not have to meet the requirements of paragraphs
(C)(2), (C)(6), and (C)(9) of this rule. For the purposes of this rule,
"occasional" means three or fewer times per calendar year.
(14) Training for
transportation shall be completed at least annually for all drivers and shall
be documented and kept on file at the center in the employee's or child care
staff member's file for review by the ODJFS.
(D) What are the
vehicle requirements for the center?
(1) Any vehicle
operated by the center or driven by the child care staff member to transport children
for routine trips or field trips shall be mechanically safe at all times.
(2) Requirements
for center vehicles used for transportation of children are listed in appendix
B to this rule.
(3) School buses
and multifunction school activity buses are not required to complete the
inspections of paragraph (F) of this rule. They shall prepare the buses before
each trip following the Ohio department of education's operational and safety
rules of Chapter 3301-83 of the Administrative Code.
(4) The personal
vehicles driven by parents who are not employed by the center are not required
to meet the requirements of paragraph (E)(2) of this rule.
(E) When shall
vehicles used for transporting children be inspected?
(1) The center
shall maintain documentation that staff have performed weekly inspections
followed by any necessary repairs or other appropriate actions, for the
following items:
(a) A visual
inspection of the vehicle's tires for wear and adequate pressure.
(b) A visual
inspection for working headlights and taillights, signals, mirrors, wiper
blades and dash gauges.
(c) An inspection
for properly functioning child and driver restraints.
(d) An inspection
for properly functioning doors and windows.
(e) An inspection
for, and cleaning of, debris from the vehicle's interior.
(2) The center
shall require providers of transportation services to maintain documentation
that the transportation services staff have performed the same weekly
inspections and necessary repairs or other appropriate actions required by paragraph
(E)(1) of this rule.
(F) What are the
requirements for the vehicle safety inspection?
(1) The safety
check shall be completed and approved annually prior to the use of any vehicle
for transporting children, except that a new vehicle purchased directly from
the dealer shall have the safety check completed before one year from the date
of purchase. The bill of sale from the vehicle purchase must be maintained on
file at the center to verify compliance.
(2) Verification
of the safety check shall be documented on the JFS 01230 "Vehicle
Inspection Report for Child Care" (rev.
12/2016). This verification shall include notation and correction of any safety
violation and shall be maintained on file at the center for review by the
ODJFS.
Effective: 10/29/2017
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 12/31/2021
Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY
Date: 10/12/2017
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5104.015
Rule Amplifies: 5104.015
Prior Effective Dates: 3/1/81, 2/8/82 (Emer.), 9/1/86, 1/1/90,
1/2/92 (Emer.), 4/1/92, 4/1/03, 9/1/05, 1/1/07, 7/1/10, 9/29/11, 11/22/15,
12/31/16