LAC 67:V.6953. Authority

NOTE: This Section has been moved from LAC 67:I.1953. A. Legislative Provisions. The licensing authority of the Department of Social Services is established by R.S. 46:1401 et seq., and R.S. 46:51 which mandate the licensing of all child care facilities and child placing agencies, including child residential facilities. A Class “B" child residential facility is defined as any place, facility or home operated by any institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons or any other group to provide full-time care (24-hour residential care) for four or more children under the age of 18 years who are not related to the operators, and whose parents or guardians are not residents of the same facility, with or without transfer of custody, and no state or federal funds received for the care of the children. 1. In accordance with HCR 71 of the 2020 Legislative Session, license renewal fees due from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 are hereby suspended for existing residential homes located in Louisiana as part of Louisiana’s response to and as a way to help businesses reopen and recover from COVID-19. B. Penalties 1. All child care facilities, including facilities owned or operated by any governmental, profit, nonprofit, private or church agency, shall be licensed. 2. As mandated by R.S. 46:1421, whoever operates any child care facility or child-placing agency as defined in R.S. 46:1403, including any child residential facility, without a valid license issued by the department shall be fined not less than $1,000 for each day of such offense. C. Inspections 1. According to law, it shall be the duty of the Department of Social Services "through its duly authorized agents, to inspect at regular intervals not to exceed one year, or as deemed necessary by the department, and without previous notice, all child care facilities and child placing agencies subject to the provisions of the Chapter". (R.S. 46:1417). 2. When the department is advised or has reason to believe that any person, agency or organization is operating a child residential facility without a license, the department shall make an investigation to ascertain the facts. 3. When the department is advised or has reason to believe that any person, agency or organization is operating in violation of the Class "B" Child Residential Care Minimum Standards, the department shall complete a complaint investigation. All reports of mistreatment received by the department will be investigated.