Sierra Nevada Childcare

NAC 414

“1. A carpeted floor or rug on a floor that is too large to wash in a washing machine must be vacuumed not less than one time each day or more often if necessary and cleaned not less than one time every 3 months or more often if necessary. If the carpeted floor or rug is cleaned by a member of the staff of the facility using a carpet cleaning machine, the Health Division may require the carpeted floor or rug to be professionally cleaned if the carpeted floor or rug does not appear to be clean. 2. Each floor of a facility that is not carpeted must be swept and mopped not less than one time each day or more often if necessary. 3. When cleaning a nonporous surface in a facility, including, without limitation, cleaning toys, cribs, tables, high chairs and surfaces used to change diapers, the staff of the facility shall: (a) Clean the surface first with soap and water to remove any dirt or debris; and (b) Disinfect the surface with a disinfecting agent. 4. The disinfecting agent used pursuant to subsection 3 must consist of: (a) One-fourth of a cup of liquid chlorine bleach added to 1 gallon of water that is prepared fresh daily and kept in a closed container; (b) One tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach added to 1 quart of water that is prepared fresh daily; or (c) A solution that is approved by the appropriate state or local agency and is at least as effective as the solutions described in paragraphs (a) and (b).”

NAC 430.3

“3. In addition to the written assessment plan which is developed pursuant to subsection 2, each facility described in subsection 1 shall, within 3 months after a child enrolls in the facility, assess the child by use of, without limitation, portfolios, observations, checklists, rating scales and screening tools. Such an assessment must be repeated biannually thereafter to monitor and support the learning and development of each child enrolled in the facility.”

NRS 230

“Certificate of immunization prerequisite to admission to child care facility; conditional admission; report to Health Division. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 432A.235 for accommodation facilities: 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 and unless excused because of religious belief or medical condition, a child may not be admitted to any child care facility within this State, including a facility licensed by a county or city, unless the parents or guardian of the child submit to the operator of the facility a certificate stating that the child has been immunized and has received proper boosters for that immunization or is complying with the schedules established by regulation pursuant to NRS 439.550 <NRS-439.html> for the following diseases: (a) Diphtheria; (b) Tetanus; (c) Pertussis if the child is under 6 years of age; (d) Poliomyelitis; (e) Rubella; (f) Rubeola; and (g) Such other diseases as the local board of health or the State Board of Health may determine. 2. The certificate must show that the required vaccines and boosters were given and must bear the signature of a licensed physician or his or her designee or a registered nurse or his or her designee, attesting that the certificate accurately reflects the child ' s record of immunization. 3. A child whose parent or guardian has not established a permanent residence in the county in which a child care facility is located and whose history of immunization cannot be immediately confirmed by a physician in this State or a local health officer, may enter the child care facility conditionally if the parent or guardian: (a) Agrees to submit within 15 days a certificate from a physician or local health officer that the child has received or is receiving the required immunizations; and (b) Submits proof that the parent or guardian has not established a permanent residence in the county in which the facility is located. 4. If a certificate from the physician or local health officer showing that the child has received or is receiving the required immunizations is not submitted to the operator of the child care facility within 15 days after the child was conditionally admitted, the child must be excluded from the facility. 5. Before December 31 of each year, each child care facility shall report to the Health Division of the Department, on a form furnished by the Division, the exact number of children who have: (a) Been admitted conditionally to the child care facility; and (b) Completed the immunizations required by this section.”

NAC.370

“1. Evidence of each child ' s health must be presented to the director of a facility, other than an accommodation facility or a facility that provides care for ill children, within 30 days after the child ' s initial admission. The evidence must include a written statement from a licensed physician or registered nurse attesting to the status of the child ' s health and stating that all known special conditions are under treatment and the child is capable of adjusting to the programs of the facility. 2. A licensee of each such facility shall keep a record of each child which includes any pertinent information on the status of the child ' s health and any special needs of the child.”

NAC 360

“1. The licensee of a facility shall not disclose to any person who is not a member of the staff of the facility or a member of the licensing staff of the Health Division information pertaining to any child, unless: (a) The parent has given written permission for the disclosure; or (b) There is an emergency as determined by the director or the member of the staff who is in charge at the time of the emergency. 2. The licensee of a facility shall have available forms which allow a parent to release information pertaining to his or her child.”

NRS 178

“Child care facility required to maintain certain information; reporting of information to parents and guardians; notice of right to information. 1. A child care facility shall maintain a copy of: (a) The license issued to the facility by the Health Division or an agency for the licensing of child care facilities established by a county or incorporated city; (b) Any summaries of complaints provided to the facility pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 432A.190; (c) The report of any investigation conducted with respect to the complaints; and (d) The report of any disciplinary action taken against the facility pursuant to NRS 432A.190. 2. The information maintained pursuant to subsection 1 must be provided in the form prescribed pursuant to subsection 3: (a) To the parent or guardian of a child who enrolls the child in the facility, at or before the time of enrollment. (b) To the parent or guardian of a child, upon request, who is considering enrolling the child in the facility. (c) In the case of disciplinary action taken pursuant to NRS 432A.190, to the parents or guardians of all children admitted to the facility. Notice of disciplinary action must be provided to the parents or guardians of the children admitted to the facility within 3 working days after receipt by the licensed child care facility. 3. The Health Division shall develop a standard form for reporting the information required to be provided pursuant to subsection 2. The information reported on the form must include all required information for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the information is provided. 4. The Health Division and every agency for the licensing of child care facilities established by a county or incorporated city shall inform persons seeking information concerning child care facilities of their right to information pursuant to this section.”

NAC 340

“1. Procedures for admission must provide the caregiver with sufficient information and instruction from the parents to enable the caregiver to prepare a record and to make decisions or act on behalf of the child. 2. Before the admission of a child to a facility, the parent shall give the following information to the caregiver: (a) The child ' s full legal name, date of birth, current address and preferred name; (b) The name, address and telephone number of each parent responsible for the child and any special instructions needed to reach the parent during the hours the child is in the facility; (c) The name, address and telephone number of any person who can assume responsibility for the child and is authorized to take the child from the facility if the parents cannot be reached; (d) Information concerning the health of the child, including any special needs of the child; and (e) A written authorization signed by a parent which allows emergency surgical and medical care. 3. The caregiver shall, unless the facility is an accommodation facility: (a) Make a record for each child that includes the date the record was prepared and the date the child is scheduled to attend the facility; and (b) Maintain each record in good order.”

NAC 310.1

“1. Every member of the staff of a facility, including a volunteer, and each resident of the facility shall present to the director of the facility, to be placed in the person’s file, written evidence that the person is free from communicable tuberculosis. The evidence must be in the form of a report which states that the person is free from active tuberculosis as required pursuant to subsection 2 or 3. This subsection does not apply to a child who is receiving child care services from the facility or a child who resides at the facility who is not employed by or volunteering at the facility.”

NAC 250.4

“4. The play area of each facility must: (a) Be fenced or enclosed in a manner that prevents the unsupervised departure of children from the area; (b) Have an adequate drainage system; (c) Be free of hazards, debris and trash; (d) If it is an outdoor play area, provide, during the months of April through September, a shade area or shade areas that are at least equal in size to the product of 5 square feet multiplied by the total number of children in the outdoor play area; (e) Have appropriate, as determined by the Division, depths and perimeters of resilient surfacing underneath and surrounding any elevated play equipment; (f) Have adequate safety barriers around any elevated platforms; (g) Not have any dangerous or poisonous plants or other vegetative matter located within the boundaries of the play area or in an area that is accessible to children from the play area; (h) Not be in a location where any bodies of water are accessible to children; and (i) If it has playground equipment, have only equipment that is: (1) In good repair; (2) Designed and constructed to minimize injury; (3) Compatible with the age of the children in the care of the facility; (4) Spaced to reduce accidents; and (5) Securely anchored.”

NAC 200.6

“6. The license must not be issued until the Administrator of the Division is satisfied that the proposed facility will be in compliance with the applicable codes concerning safety of human life, environmental health, and building and zoning, as established respectively by the State Fire Marshal, the State Board of Health and the appropriate local government. A report of inspection by the State Fire Marshal or the Division, finding satisfactory conditions, may be accepted by the Administrator as proof of compliance with the applicable regulations.”

NAC.370

“1. Evidence of each child ' s health must be presented to the director of a facility, other than an accommodation facility or a facility that provides care for ill children, within 30 days after the child ' s initial admission. The evidence must include a written statement from a licensed physician or registered nurse attesting to the status of the child ' s health and stating that all known special conditions are under treatment and the child is capable of adjusting to the programs of the facility. 2. A licensee of each such facility shall keep a record of each child which includes any pertinent information on the status of the child ' s health and any special needs of the child.”

NAC 306

“1. Every caregiver in a child care facility must: (a) Be at least 16 years of age; (b) Be able to summon help in an emergency; (c) Be emotionally and physically qualified to carry out a program which places emphasis on the development of children; and (d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, within 90 days after the caregiver commences employment in the child care facility, apply with The Nevada Registry or its successor organization, and annually renew his or her registration before the date on which it expires. 2. Not more than 50 percent of the caregivers in a child care center, a child care institution or an early care and education program may be under 18 years of age. Any caregiver who is under 18 years of age and is employed in such a facility must: (a) Have completed a course in the development of children which is approved by: (1) The Nevada Registry or its successor organization, or any other agency designated by the Director of the Department to approve such courses; or (2) If the course has not been approved by The Nevada Registry or its successor organization, and the Director of the Department has not designated another agency to approve such courses, the Division or the local licensing agency; or (b) Be currently enrolled in such a course. 3. A child care facility may not be operated unless a person who is 18 years of age or older is on the premises of the facility. 4. A volunteer for a child care facility, regardless of his or her age, and a member of the staff of the facility who is under 18 years of age may not provide direct care to a child at the facility unless the care is provided under the supervision of an employee of the facility who is 18 years of age or older. 5. A caregiver in a child care institution is not required to initially apply with or annually renew his or her registration with The Nevada Registry or its successor organization.”

NAC.370

“1. Evidence of each child ' s health must be presented to the director of a facility, other than an accommodation facility or a facility that provides care for ill children, within 30 days after the child ' s initial admission. The evidence must include a written statement from a licensed physician or registered nurse attesting to the status of the child ' s health and stating that all known special conditions are under treatment and the child is capable of adjusting to the programs of the facility. 2. A licensee of each such facility shall keep a record of each child which includes any pertinent information on the status of the child ' s health and any special needs of the child.”

NRS 230

“Certificate of immunization prerequisite to admission to child care facility; conditional admission; report to Health Division. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 432A.235 for accommodation facilities: 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 and unless excused because of religious belief or medical condition, a child may not be admitted to any child care facility within this State, including a facility licensed by a county or city, unless the parents or guardian of the child submit to the operator of the facility a certificate stating that the child has been immunized and has received proper boosters for that immunization or is complying with the schedules established by regulation pursuant to NRS 439.550 <NRS-439.html> for the following diseases: (a) Diphtheria; (b) Tetanus; (c) Pertussis if the child is under 6 years of age; (d) Poliomyelitis; (e) Rubella; (f) Rubeola; and (g) Such other diseases as the local board of health or the State Board of Health may determine. 2. The certificate must show that the required vaccines and boosters were given and must bear the signature of a licensed physician or his or her designee or a registered nurse or his or her designee, attesting that the certificate accurately reflects the child ' s record of immunization. 3. A child whose parent or guardian has not established a permanent residence in the county in which a child care facility is located and whose history of immunization cannot be immediately confirmed by a physician in this State or a local health officer, may enter the child care facility conditionally if the parent or guardian: (a) Agrees to submit within 15 days a certificate from a physician or local health officer that the child has received or is receiving the required immunizations; and (b) Submits proof that the parent or guardian has not established a permanent residence in the county in which the facility is located. 4. If a certificate from the physician or local health officer showing that the child has received or is receiving the required immunizations is not submitted to the operator of the child care facility within 15 days after the child was conditionally admitted, the child must be excluded from the facility. 5. Before December 31 of each year, each child care facility shall report to the Health Division of the Department, on a form furnished by the Division, the exact number of children who have: (a) Been admitted conditionally to the child care facility; and (b) Completed the immunizations required by this section.”

NAC 430.3

“3. In addition to the written assessment plan which is developed pursuant to subsection 2, each facility described in subsection 1 shall, within 3 months after a child enrolls in the facility, assess the child by use of, without limitation, portfolios, observations, checklists, rating scales and screening tools. Such an assessment must be repeated biannually thereafter to monitor and support the learning and development of each child enrolled in the facility.”

NAC 430.4

“4. Each facility described in subsection 1 shall develop a written plan of curriculum for the children enrolled in the facility. The plan must: (a) Be made available for parental review; (b) Be prepared before the early care and education program becomes effective; (c) Be kept on file at the facility for at least 1 year; (d) Include a program of speaking and listening to English; (e) Integrate age appropriate key areas of instruction, including, without limitation, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, creative expression and the arts, and health and safety; (f) Incorporate instruction, concepts and activities that foster the social, emotional, physical, linguistic and cognitive development of children; and (g) Provide for the involvement of parents of the children enrolled in the facility in learning activities at the facility and at home. (h) Ensure that sedentary activity is limited throughout the day.”

NAC 412

“1. Each facility must have written procedures concerning the washing of hands. 2. The staff of a facility shall follow the procedures of the facility concerning the washing of hands and shall instruct, monitor and assist the children being cared for at the facility to ensure that the children follow the procedures. 3. The procedures concerning the washing of hands must require, without limitation, that: (a) The staff of the facility wash their hands with soap from a dispenser and warm water: (1) Any time that their hands come into contact with blood, mucus, vomit, feces or urine; (2) Before preparing or handling food; (3) Before engaging in any activity related to serving food, including, without limitation, setting the table; (4) Before and after eating a meal or snack; (5) After using the toilet, helping a child use the toilet or changing a diaper with or without gloves; (6) After attending to an ill child; (7) After handling an animal; (8) Before and after giving medication to a child; and (9) After cleaning a container used to store garbage or handling garbage. (b) The children being cared for in the facility wash their hands with soap from a dispenser and warm water: (1) Any time that their hands come into contact with blood, mucus, vomit, feces or urine; (2) Before handling food; (3) Before and after eating a meal or snack; (4) After handling an animal; (5) After the diaper or underwear of the child is changed; (6) After playing in water; and (7) After playing in a sandbox. (c) The staff of the facility shall ensure that: (1) Each bathroom has running water, soap and single-use or disposable towels; and (2) Any common basin or sink which is filled with standing water is not used for the washing of hands.”

NAC 416

“1. Each member of the staff of a facility that is necessary to meet the applicable requirement for the ratio of caregivers to children set forth in NAC 432A.526 for napping or sleeping children must be on the same floor in the same building where the children are napping or sleeping. Members of the staff of each facility must be readily accessible and available to be summoned to ensure the safety of the children in the facility. 2. Areas provided for napping or sleeping in a facility must be sufficiently lighted to provide for visual supervision of the children at all times. 3. The staff of each facility shall: (a) Ensure that each infant under 12 months of age is placed on his or her back on a firm mattress, mat or pad manufactured for use by an infant when the infant is napping or sleeping; (b) Use a safe, sturdy, well-constructed, single-level, free-standing crib, portable crib or playpen for children to nap or sleep in; (c) Equip any such sleeping device with a waterproof, firm-fitting mattress; (d) Ensure that each crib to be used by a child who is 6 months of age or younger is constructed with vertical slats that are not more than 2 3/8 inches apart; (e) Ensure that a child who is 18 months of age or younger naps or sleeps in a crib which is appropriate for his or her age or in another sleeping device which has been approved by the Health Division; (f) Ensure that a child who is older than 18 months of age naps or sleeps in an appropriate crib or on a cot or mat; (g) Ensure that each sleeping device has appropriate bedding and a waterproof and washable covering; (h) Wipe clean each sleeping device with a disinfectant not less than one time each week or more often if necessary; (i) Ensure that the bedding that each child uses is used only for that particular child; (j) Replace the bedding each time it is wet or soiled by a child or when the sleeping device is to be used by another child; (k) Within 15 minutes after a child in a crib has awakened from a nap or from sleeping, take the child out of the crib and engage him or her in an appropriate activity; (l) Ensure that each child takes a nap as needed; (m) Ensure that each napping or sleeping child is in an area from which the staff can readily hear and see the child; and (n) Ensure that each napping or sleeping child is checked by a caregiver not less than one time every 15 minutes. 4. The staff of a facility shall not change the diaper of a child in a crib or other sleeping device. 5. The staff of a facility shall not use a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow or any other soft surface as a surface on which to place an infant under 12 months of age to nap or sleep.”

NAC 425.13

“13. The staff of a nursery for infants and toddlers shall prepare a daily report for each child for whom it provides care. The report must be posted in a conspicuous place in each room used to care for the infants and toddlers and must include, without limitation, information concerning the feeding, diapering and sleeping of each child.”

NRS 178

“Child care facility required to maintain certain information; reporting of information to parents and guardians; notice of right to information. 1. A child care facility shall maintain a copy of: (a) The license issued to the facility by the Health Division or an agency for the licensing of child care facilities established by a county or incorporated city; (b) Any summaries of complaints provided to the facility pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 432A.190; (c) The report of any investigation conducted with respect to the complaints; and (d) The report of any disciplinary action taken against the facility pursuant to NRS 432A.190. 2. The information maintained pursuant to subsection 1 must be provided in the form prescribed pursuant to subsection 3: (a) To the parent or guardian of a child who enrolls the child in the facility, at or before the time of enrollment. (b) To the parent or guardian of a child, upon request, who is considering enrolling the child in the facility. (c) In the case of disciplinary action taken pursuant to NRS 432A.190, to the parents or guardians of all children admitted to the facility. Notice of disciplinary action must be provided to the parents or guardians of the children admitted to the facility within 3 working days after receipt by the licensed child care facility. 3. The Health Division shall develop a standard form for reporting the information required to be provided pursuant to subsection 2. The information reported on the form must include all required information for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the information is provided. 4. The Health Division and every agency for the licensing of child care facilities established by a county or incorporated city shall inform persons seeking information concerning child care facilities of their right to information pursuant to this section.”

NAC 280.5

“5. The director of the facility shall maintain a daily sign-in sheet that includes: (a) The first and last names of staff and children; and (b) The times of arrival and departure for staff and children”

NAC 360

“1. The licensee of a facility shall not disclose to any person who is not a member of the staff of the facility or a member of the licensing staff of the Health Division information pertaining to any child, unless: (a) The parent has given written permission for the disclosure; or (b) There is an emergency as determined by the director or the member of the staff who is in charge at the time of the emergency. 2. The licensee of a facility shall have available forms which allow a parent to release information pertaining to his or her child.”

NAC 250.4

“4. The play area of each facility must: (a) Be fenced or enclosed in a manner that prevents the unsupervised departure of children from the area; (b) Have an adequate drainage system; (c) Be free of hazards, debris and trash; (d) If it is an outdoor play area, provide, during the months of April through September, a shade area or shade areas that are at least equal in size to the product of 5 square feet multiplied by the total number of children in the outdoor play area; (e) Have appropriate, as determined by the Division, depths and perimeters of resilient surfacing underneath and surrounding any elevated play equipment; (f) Have adequate safety barriers around any elevated platforms; (g) Not have any dangerous or poisonous plants or other vegetative matter located within the boundaries of the play area or in an area that is accessible to children from the play area; (h) Not be in a location where any bodies of water are accessible to children; and (i) If it has playground equipment, have only equipment that is: (1) In good repair; (2) Designed and constructed to minimize injury; (3) Compatible with the age of the children in the care of the facility; (4) Spaced to reduce accidents; and (5) Securely anchored.”

NAC 280

“1. Each licensee shall develop an appropriate plan to ensure that the staff of his or her facility is prepared to respond in an emergency, including, without limitation, a fire or natural disaster. The plan must, at a minimum, be reviewed on a quarterly basis during a meeting of the staff of the facility. Each licensee shall ensure that the plan is, at a minimum, evaluated annually and is changed as necessary. 2. Each plan developed pursuant to subsection 1 must include, without limitation: (a) The duties of the director and staff; (b) A procedure for removing staff and children to a shelter within a building of the facility if the staff and children are instructed to do so by emergency personnel; (c) A procedure for evacuating the facility; (d) A plan for transportation; (e) A list of sites that may be used for relocation; (f) A plan for the supervision of the children of the facility during the emergency; (g) The manner in which children and staff from the facility will be accounted for during the emergency; and (h) The method for contacting emergency personnel, including, without limitation, the fire department, a law enforcement agency or any other appropriate authority. 3. The licensee of a facility shall hold: (a) A fire drill at least once every month; and (b) A drill for natural disasters at least once every 3 months. 4. Appropriate plans for removing the staff and children of a facility to a shelter within a building of the facility and for the evacuation of the facility in case of emergency must be conspicuously posted in a public place in the facility. 5. The director of the facility shall maintain a daily sign-in sheet that includes: (a) The first and last names of staff and children; and (b) The times of arrival and departure for staff and children. 6. To maintain his or her license, the licensee must ensure that his or her facility meets all standards for fire safety which are established by the State Fire Marshal. 7. The State Fire Marshal or a designee thereof shall, at least annually: (a) Enter and inspect every building or the premises of each facility; and (b) Observe and make recommendations regarding the drills conducted pursuant to subsection 3. 8. Reports of the drills conducted pursuant to subsection 3 and the inspections concerning the fire safety of a facility conducted pursuant to subsection 7 must be maintained in a physical file at the facility and be available for review at the facility by a parent of a child who attends the facility or a parent who is considering enrolling his or her child at the facility for at least 2 years after the date of inspection”

NAC 304

“1. The director of a child care facility is responsible for screening, scheduling and supervising the staff of the facility and for the conduct of each member of the staff at the facility. 2. The director shall: (a) Provide a program for child care for the facility which meets the requirements of this chapter. (b) Be physically present in the facility for a sufficient amount of time to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and chapter 432A of NRS. (c) Provide space for an office, the storage of records, conferences with parents, meetings of the staff and all other needs of the program for child care. (d) Maintain organized separate records for each employee that include, without limitation, documents related to training. Such records must include, without limitation: (1) Documents verifying that the employee has, if applicable: (I) Completed the training required pursuant to NRS 432A.177; (II) Received the orientation and basic training required pursuant to NAC 432A.320; (III) Completed the training required pursuant to NAC 432A.323; and (IV) Completed the training required pursuant to NAC 432A.326; and (2) A copy of the documentation concerning, and the results of, the investigation of the employee’s background and personal history which is conducted pursuant to NRS 432A.170, including, without limitation, a clearance letter from the Division or a current child care work card, and a release form for this information completed by the employee. (e) Ensure that each member of the staff of the facility who is not a caregiver, but whose job duties may directly impact children cared for in the facility, has the training necessary to protect the health and safety of the children and the health and safety of the other members of the staff, including, without limitation, training concerning proper nutrition, methods of sanitation and procedures for maintaining a safe environment in the facility. (f) Work with parents and include them, whenever possible, in the programming and functioning of activities. (g) Cooperate with the Division and other agencies of government to improve the quality of child care and the competence of caregivers. (h) Designate a member of the staff who is responsible for the operation of the facility when the director is not present at the facility. 3. If the facility is in operation 25 hours or less per week, the director must be present in the facility during at least half the hours of operation.”