Transportation of Children – Partner Providers who transport children must adhere

Transportation of Children – Partner Providers who transport children must adhere to the following guidelines: 1. General Requirements a. Use age-appropriate passenger restraint systems; b. Provide adequate passenger supervision as required by statute or regulation; c. Properly maintain vehicles and obtain required registration and inspection; d. Provide the MDCPS with annual validation of current licenses, driving records, and appropriate insurance of Partner Provider and/or Partner Provider staff; and e. When transporting children, Partner Provider staff must not make additional, unapproved stops except for fuel and emergencies. 2. Vehicle Restrictions a. Partner Provider must purchase a van in the Partner Provider’s name within one (1) year of opening the facility. b. Partner Provider and privately-owned vehicles used to transport children must be equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher at the time of transportation. c. Partner Provider staff’s private cars may only be used in case of an emergency. 3. Safety Restrictions a. The number of people in a Partner Provider owned vehicle used to transport children must not exceed the number of available seats. b. Partner Providers must not transport children in the back or bed of a truck, regardless of distance. c. Seatbelts or age-appropriate child safety restraints prescribed by law must be used when transporting children. d. The Partner Provider staff must provide information regarding special medical needs or problems to the operator of any vehicle transporting children. 4. Prohibition on Youth in Care Operating Vehicles a. No youth in care may operate a motor vehicle to transport other persons. b. Negligence or willful misconduct of a driver under seventeen (17) years of age is imputed to person signing application for license and will be imputed to the Partner Provider in the event a youth in their care operates a vehicle.