53A-3-417 - Child care centers in public schools -- Requirements -- Availability -- Compliance with state and local laws.
53A-3-417. Child care centers in public schools -- Requirements -- Availability --Compliance with state and local laws.
(1) (a) Upon receiving a request from a community group such as a community council,local PTA, or parent/student organization, a local school board may authorize the use of a part ofany school building in the district to provide child care services for school aged children.
(b) (i) The school board shall provide written public notice of its intent to authorize achild care center.
(ii) The board shall file a copy of the notice with the Office of Child Care within theDepartment of Workforce Services and the Department of Health.
(2) (a) Establishment of a child care center in a public school building is contingent uponthe local school board determining that the center will not interfere with the building's use forregular school purposes.
(b) The decision shall be made at the sole discretion of the school board.
(c) A school board may withdraw its approval to operate a child care center at any time ifit determines that such use interferes with the operation or interest of the school.
(d) The school district and its employees and agents are immune from any liability thatmight otherwise result from a withdrawal of approval if the withdrawal was made in good faith.
(3) (a) The board shall charge a commercially reasonable fee for the use of a schoolbuilding as a child care center so that the district does not incur an expense.
(b) The fee shall include but not be limited to costs for utility, building maintenance, andadministrative services supplied by the school that are related to the operation of the child carecenter.
(4) (a) Child care service may be provided by governmental agencies other than schooldistricts, nonprofit community service groups, or private providers.
(b) If competitive proposals to provide child care services are submitted by the entitieslisted in Subsection (4)(a), the board shall give preference to the private provider and nonprofitcommunity service groups so long as their proposals are judged to be at least equal to theproposal of the governmental agency.
(c) It is intended that these programs function at the local community level with minimalstate and district involvement.
(5) It is the intent of the Legislature that providers not be required to go through acomplex procedure in order to obtain approval for providing the service.
(6) (a) Child care centers within a public school building shall make their servicesavailable to all children regardless of where the children reside.
(b) If space and resources are limited, first priority shall be given to those who residewithin the school boundaries where the center is located, and to the children of teachers and otheremployees of the school where the child care center is located.
(c) Second priority shall be given to those who reside within the school districtboundaries where the center is located.
(7) (a) The school board shall require proof of liability insurance which is adequate in theopinion of the school board for use of school property as a child care center.
(b) A school district participating in the state Risk Management Fund shall require theprovider of child care services to comply with the applicable provisions of Title 63A, Chapter 4,Risk Management.
(8) Child care centers established under this section shall operate in compliance with
state and local laws and regulations, including zoning and licensing requirements, and applicableschool rules.
(9) Except for Subsection (8), this section does not apply to child care centers establishedby a school district within a public school building if the center offers child care servicesprimarily to children of employees or children of students of the school district.
Amended by Chapter 171, 2004 General Session