KRS 199.8994: Uniform administration of child -care funds -- Dedicated child -care

licensing surveyors.

(1) All child -day-care funds administered by the cabinet, including Title XX of the

Social Security Act, shall be administered by the Cabinet for Health and Famil y

Services to the extent allowable under federal law or regulation and in a manner

which is in the best interest of the clients to be served. To the extent permitted by

federal law or regulations, requirements relating to application, eligibility, provider

agreements, and payment for child -care services shall be the same regardless of the

source of public funding.

(2) The cabinet shall, to the extent allowable under federal law or regulation and in a

manner which is in the best interest of the clients to be served, develop a system

which provides a single intake point in each county through which parents seeking

public subsidies for child-care services can make application.

(3) The cabinet shall, subject to the extent funds are available, cooperate with the

Cabinet for Health and Family Services to fund and establish dedicated child -care

licensing surveyor positions within the Division of Licensed Child Care to conduct

all the cabinet's child -care licensing activities. The cabinet shall have the authority

to request the transfer of funds to establish these positions. Where possible,

dedicated child -care surveyors shall have expertise or experience in child -care or

early childhood education.

(4) The targeted ratio of dedicated child -care licensing surveyor posi tions shall be one

(1) surveyor for each fifty (50) child -care facilities in order to allow for the

provision of an expedient, constructive, and thorough licensing visit.

(5) The cabinet shall, in cooperation with the Division of Licensed Child Care, Cabin et

for Health and Family Services, provide appropriate specialized training for child -

care surveyors.

(6) (a) The cabinet shall evaluate ways to improve the monitoring of unregulated

child-care providers that receive a public subsidy for child care, and

promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A

that establish minimum health and safety standards, limitations on the

maximum number of children in care, training requirements for a child -care

provider that receives a child -care sub sidy administered by the cabinet, and

criteria for the denial of subsidies if criminal records indicate convictions that

impact the safety and security of children in care.

(b) If the cabinet has probable cause to believe that there is an immediate threat to

the public health, safety, or welfare, it may take emergency action to deny a

public subsidy for child-care services under KRS 13B.125.