Requirement to be Licensed or Hold a Letter of Compliance. A tax-exempt religious organization that operates a nursery school or child care program in a school building used exclusively for children who are enrolled in that school, is required to be licensed under COMAR 13A.16 or to hold a letter of compliance in accordance with the requirements of this subtitle. General Requirements. A letter of compliance: Is nontransferable; and Remains the property of the office. The operator shall surrender the letter of compliance to the office immediately if any of the following occurs or becomes effective: The operator closes the facility permanently; The letter of compliance is suspended; The letter of compliance is revoked; The operator has not applied for a continuing letter of compliance before the expiration date of the initial letter of compliance; or The letter of compliance expires and an application for a continuing letter of compliance is denied. The operator may not allow an employee, staff member, substitute, or volunteer to: Be assigned to a group of children or have access to a child in care until the individual has successfully passed the child abuse and neglect clearance and a federal or State criminal background check; or Be alone with a child or group of children until all checks have been successfully passed.