La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § V-6962

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section V-6962 - State Central Registry

A. State Central Registry Checks for Owners

1. Prior to May 1, 2019, in accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1, all owners and operators affiliated with a facility were required to have on file a state central registry clearance form from child welfare stating that the owners/operators were not listed on the state central registry. No person recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse or neglect of a child shall be eligible to own, operate, or participate in the governance of a residential home.

a. When an individual is listed on the licensing application or the Secretary of States website as an officer and does not have access to children/youth in care or children/youth who receive services from the provider and/or is not present at any time on the facility premises when children/youth are present, a DCFS approved attestation form signed and dated by the individual is acceptable in lieu of a state central registry clearance. The attestation form shall be accepted for a period of one year from the date individual signed attestation form.

2. Prior to May 1, 2019, all owners and operators affiliated with a facility were required to have on file a clearance from any other states child abuse and neglect registry in which the owner/operator resided within the proceeding five years. No person recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect of a child was eligible to own, operate, or participate in the governance of the residential home.

3. In accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1, an inquiry of the State Central Registry for all owners and operators shall be conducted prior to a license being issued or if currently licensed, prior to the addition of a new board member who meets the definition of an owner. The Louisiana State Central Registry clearance form shall be dated no earlier than 45 days prior to the application being received by the Licensing Section or the addition of a new board member who meets the definition of an owner. For states other than Louisiana, clearance forms shall be dated no earlier than 120 days prior to the application being received by the Licensing Section or the addition of a new board member who meets the definition of an owner; however, individuals who continue to reside outside of the state of Louisiana, but own/operate a residential home in Louisiana, their clearances shall be dated prior to the issuance of the initial license, but no earlier than 45 days prior to the initial application being received by the Licensing Section. A request for a state central registry clearance from the state in which the owner/operator resides shall be submitted by provider every five years prior to the date noted on the most current clearance and at any time upon the request of DCFS. No person who is recorded on any state's child abuse and neglect registry with a valid justified (valid) finding of abuse or neglect of a child shall be eligible to own, operate, or participate in the governance of the residential home.

4. If an owner/operator resided in another state within the proceeding five years, provider shall request a check and obtain clearance information from that states child abuse and neglect registry prior to the license being issued or if currently licensed, prior to the addition of a new board member who meets the definition of an owner. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect of a child shall be eligible to own, operate, or participate in the governance of a residential home.

a. If the provider requests an out-of-state state central registry check and that state advises that they are unable to process the request due to statutory limitations, documentation of such shall be kept on file.

5. Upon notification from child welfare that an owner/operator(s) is not listed on the state central registry, the provider shall maintain on file the child welfare notification that the owners name does not appear on the registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect.

6. A request for a state central registry clearance shall be submitted by provider for all owners/operators to child welfare every five years prior to the date noted on the state central registry clearance notification and at any time upon the request of DCFS if reasonable suspicion exists that an individual may be listed on the state central registry.

7. If the owner/operator receives a justified (valid) finding after receiving notification from child welfare that he was not listed on the state central registry and the owner/operator advises the provider prior to his/her appeal rights being exhausted, licensing shall be notified within 24 hours or no later than the next business day, whichever is shorter.

a. The owner/operator shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the residential home and at any and all times when he/she is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual must not be a suspected perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect.

b. Under no circumstances shall the owner/operator, with the justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect, be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

8. Upon notification to the provider from child welfare that the owner/operator is listed on the state central registry, the owner/operator shall no longer be eligible to own, operate, or participate in the governance of the residential home. The owner/operator may voluntarily withdraw the application for licensure or if he/she chooses not to withdraw the application, the application shall be immediately denied. If the individual with the justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect is a member of the residential home board, the provider shall submit a signed, dated statement to licensing within 24 hours or no later than the next business day indicating that the board member has resigned his position on the board or has been relieved of his position on the board with the effective date of the resignation/removal. Within seven calendar days, provider shall also submit to licensing documentation verifying that the individuals name has been removed from the Secretary of States website if the CPA is owned/operated by a corporation. After receipt of the statement, the application for licensure may continue to be processed.

9. Any information received or knowledge acquired by a provider that a current owner is a perpetrator of abuse and/or neglect with a justified (valid) determination of abuse or neglect prior to receipt of official notification from child welfare, shall be immediately reported verbally to licensing management staff and followed up in writing no later than the close of business on the next business day. Prior to receipt of the official notification and immediately upon the knowledge that a justified (valid) finding has been issued by DCFS, the individual shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the residential home, at any and all times when he/she is present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual must not be a suspected perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

10. State central registry clearances are not transferable from one owner to another.

B. State Central Registry Checks for Staff and Volunteers

1. Prior to employment, staff record shall contain a state central registry clearance form indicating that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) person is not listed on the state central registry with a justified finding of child abuse and/or neglect.

a. Prior to May 1, 2019, all staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) were required to have on file a state central registry clearance form from child welfare noting that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) person is not listed on the state central registry in accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment in a licensed residential home.

b. Prior to May 1, 2019, all staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) were required to have on file a clearance from any other states child abuse and neglect registry in which the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) person resided within the proceeding five years. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment in a licensed residential home.

c. In accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1, an inquiry of the State Central Registry for all staff (paid, non-paid and volunteers) shall be conducted prior to employment being offered to a potential hire. Staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) persons who have resided in another state within the preceding five years, provider shall request a check and obtain State Central Registry clearance from that state's child abuse and neglect registry. Louisiana State Central Registry clearance forms shall be dated no earlier than 45 days prior to the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) being present on the premises or having access to children/youth. Other states State Central Registry clearance forms shall be dated no earlier than 120 days prior to the staff (paid, nonpaid, and volunteers) being present on the premises or having access to children/youth; however, individuals who continue to reside outside of the state of Louisiana, but volunteer with and/or work for a licensed provider in the state of Louisiana, their clearances shall be dated no earlier than 45 days prior to hire and/or having access to children/youth. A request for a state central registry clearance from the state in which the staff/volunteer resides shall be submitted by provider every five years prior to the date noted on the most current clearance and at any time upon the request of DCFS. No person who is recorded on any state's child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment in a licensed residential home.

d. Upon notification from child welfare that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) is not listed on the state central registry, the provider shall maintain on file the state central registry clearance form noting that the staffs (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) name does not appear on the registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect. A request shall be submitted to child welfare every five years for staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) prior to the issue date noted on the state central registry clearance form and at any time upon the request of DCFS if reasonable suspicion exists that a staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) may be listed on the state central registry.

e. If after the initial state central registry clearance form is received by provider from child welfare noting that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) is not listed on the state central registry and due to a new valid finding, the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) receives a subsequent notice that he/she is listed on the state central registry (issued after the provider was licensed) and advises the provider of the new information prior to their appeal rights being exhausted, licensing shall be notified within 24 hours or no later than the next business day, whichever is shorter. The staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be directly supervised by another paid staff (employee) of the residential home, at any and all times when he/she is present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual shall not be suspected to be a perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

f. Upon notification to the provider from child welfare that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) is listed on the state central registry, the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) shall no longer be eligible for employment with the residential home. The provider shall submit a signed, dated statement to licensing within 24 hours, but no later than the next business day indicating that the staff (paid, non-paid, and volunteers) with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect has been terminated. If this statement is not received by licensing within the aforementioned timeframe, the application shall be denied or license shall be immediately revoked.

g. Any information received or knowledge acquired by the provider that a current staff (paid, non-paid and volunteer) is a perpetrator of abuse and/or neglect with a justified (valid) determination of abuse or neglect prior to receipt of official notification from child welfare, shall be immediately reported verbally to licensing management staff and followed up in writing no later than the close of business on the next business day. Prior to receipt of the official notification and immediately upon the knowledge that a justified (valid) finding has been issued by DCFS, the individual shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the residential home, at any and all times when he/she is present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual must not be suspected to be a perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

h. State central registry clearances are not transferable from one owner to another.

C. State Central Registry Checks for Contractors

1. Contractors who provide services to children/youth unaccompanied by paid staff or have access to children/youth unaccompanied by a paid staff shall have on file at the facility a state central registry clearance form which indicates that the contractor is not listed on any State Central registry with a valid finding of child abuse and/or neglect.

a. Prior to May 1, 2019, all contractors providing services to the residential home were required to have on file a state central registry clearance form from child welfare that the contractor is not listed on the state central registry in accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment or provide services in a licensed residential home.

b. Prior to May 1, 2019, all contractors providing services to the residential home were required to have on file a clearance from any other states child abuse and neglect registry in which the contractor resided within the proceeding five years. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment or provide services in a licensed residential home.

c. For individuals who have resided in another state within the proceeding five years, provider shall request a check and obtain clearance information from that states child abuse and neglect registry prior to providing services or having access to children/youth.

i. If the provider requests an out-of-state state central registry check and that state advises that they are unable to process the request due to statutory limitations, documentation of such shall be kept on file.

d. Louisiana State Central Registry clearance forms shall be dated no earlier than 45 days prior to the individual providing services or having access to children/youth. Other state's State Central Registry clearance information shall be dated no earlier than 120 days prior to the individual providing services or having access to children/youth; however, individuals who continue to reside outside of the state of Louisiana, but contract with and/or work for a licensed provider in the state of Louisiana, their clearances shall be dated no earlier than 45 days prior to hire and/or having access to children/youth. A request for a state central registry clearance from the state in which the contractor resides shall be submitted by provider every five years prior to the date noted on the most current clearance and at any time upon the request of DCFS. No person who is recorded on any state's child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible for employment in a licensed residential home.

e. Upon notification from child welfare that the individual is not listed on the state central registry, the provider shall maintain on file the state central registry clearance indicating that the individuals name does not appear on the registry with a justified (valid) finding of abuse and/or neglect. No person who is recorded on any states child abuse and neglect registry with a valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be eligible to provide services in a licensed residential home.

f. A request shall be submitted to child welfare every five years for contractors prior to the issue date noted on the state central registry clearance form and at any time upon the request of DCFS if reasonable suspicion exists that a staff may be listed on the state central registry.

g. If after the initial state central registry clearance form is received by provider from child welfare noting that the individual is not listed on the state central registry and due to a new valid finding, the contractor receives a subsequent notice that he/she is listed on the state central registry (issued after the provider was licensed) and advises the provider of the new information prior to their appeal rights being exhausted, licensing shall be notified within 24 hours or no later than the next business day, whichever is shorter. The individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the residential home at any and all times when he/she present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual must not be suspected to be a perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

h. Upon notification to the provider from child welfare that the contractor is listed on the state central registry, the individual shall no longer be eligible to provide services for the residential home. The provider shall submit a signed, dated statement to licensing within 24 hours or no later than the next business day indicating that the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect has been relieved of his duties with the residential home with the effective date of termination of services. If this statement is not received by licensing within the aforementioned timeframe, the license shall be immediately revoked.

i. Any information received or knowledge acquired by the provider that a current contractor is a perpetrator of abuse and/or neglect with a justified (valid) determination of abuse or neglect prior to receipt of official notification from child welfare, shall be immediately reported verbally to licensing management staff and followed up in writing no later than the close of business on the next business day. Prior to receipt of the official notification and immediately upon the knowledge that a justified (valid) finding has been issued by DCFS, the individual shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the residential home, at any and all times when he/she is present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth,. The employee responsible for supervising the individual must not be suspected to be a perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from child welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

j. State central registry clearances are not transferable from one owner to another.

D. Reasonable Suspicion

1. Any information received or knowledge acquired by the provider that a current owner, contractor, volunteer and/or staff, is a perpetrator of abuse and/or neglect after October 1, 2018, with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect prior to receipt of official notification from Child Welfare, shall be verbally reported to Licensing management staff immediately and followed up in writing no later than the close of business on the next business day. Prior to receipt of the official notification and immediately upon the knowledge that a justified (valid) finding has been issued by DCFS, the individual shall be directly supervised by a paid staff (employee) of the maternity home, at any and all times when he/she is present on the premises and/or is in the presence of a child/youth. The employee responsible for supervising the individual shall not be suspected to be a perpetrator with a justified (valid) determination of abuse and/or neglect. Under no circumstances shall the individual with the valid (justified) finding of abuse and/or neglect be left alone and unsupervised with a child/youth pending the official determination from Child Welfare that the individual is or is not listed on the state central registry.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § V-6962

LR 45, Promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services, Licensing Section, LR 45510 (4/1/2019), effective 5/1/2019, Amended LR 46688 (5/1/2020), effective 6/1/2020, Promulgated by the Department of Children and Family Services, Licensing Section, LR 471845 (12/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:1414.1.