A. Sections 401 through 418 of this title shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act".
B. It is the declared purpose and policy of the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act, to:
1. Ensure maintenance of minimum standards for the care and protection of children away from their own homes;
2. Encourage and assist the child care facility toward maximum standards; and
3. Work for the development of sufficient and adequate services for child care through joint work of public, private and voluntary agencies. Whenever possible, child care facilities should help to preserve and restore family life for children.
C. In order to provide care for children in child care facilities, a license shall be obtained from the Department of Human Services, which is issued on the basis of meeting minimum standards which are essential for the health and welfare of the child or children placed for care with such agencies and individuals.
D. The Child Care Facilities Licensing Division within the Department of Human Services shall work with representatives from municipalities to develop a single child care licensure procedure for use by state and local entities.
Added by Laws 1953, p. 17, § 1. Amended by Laws 1963, c. 89, § 1, emerg. eff. May 23, 1963; Laws 1993, c. 122, § 1, emerg. eff. April 29, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 174, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2002, c. 158, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2003; Laws 2009, c. 230, § 1, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.