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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.5-503" title_number="9.5" title_name="Division of Early Childhood Development" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Child Care Centers in State–occupied Buildings">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Maryland Department of Health and the Department of General Services shall cooperate with and assist the Department in carrying out the purposes of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Department shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Provide the guidance and means for establishing child care centers for the children of State employees in State–occupied buildings or nearby buildings in accordance with this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Provide for licensing of child care centers for children of State employees;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Ensure that space designated within a State–occupied building or nearby buildings for a child care center complies with the prevailing local and State safety building codes for child care centers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Apply the regulations adopted under Subtitle 4 of this title for child care centers; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Contract for child care services in the space provided. Contract providers must provide proof of financial responsibility.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department of General Services shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Construct or acquire the required space to be used by the child care center, which space shall be submetered for utilities and the costs of which shall be paid by the child care center; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Inspect the facility monthly and inform child care center personnel of maintenance deficiencies to be corrected by the child care center.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If any deficiencies under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection are not corrected within a reasonable time, the Department of General Services shall notify the Department which will exact compliance in accordance with the terms of the child care center contract.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The child care center shall pay for any costs of operation of the child care center.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Space originally set aside for a child care center may be used for other purposes if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The building has been fully occupied for 180 days; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>An application to operate a child care center has not been filed under Subtitle 4 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Children of State employees shall have priority over other children in admission to a child care center in a State–occupied building or nearby buildings.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>After a child care center for children of State employees has been established, the Department shall assess the child care needs of the State employees using the center at least every 5 years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the assessment demonstrates that the service is no longer needed or feasible, the State Superintendent may close the center.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The State Superintendent shall give the child care center 90 days’ written notice of closure.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
